Up to 2500 places in free training programs will be made available in Canberra over the next two years, as part of a $16.75 million expansion of the program.
The ACT government will jointly fund with the Commonwealth another round of the JobTrainer program, designed to help young Canberrans receive training for in-demand industry skills.
The ACT and Commonwealth governments will also offer free access to nationally accredited training in infection control, ahead of public health restrictions easing beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Places in the JobTrainer training programs will be open to people aged between 17 and 24, along with people looking for work.
Free training places will be made available to all Canberrans for aged care, early childhood education, disability care and digital skills programs, regardless of age or employment status.
Skills Minister Chris Steel said the expansion of these training places to all Canberrans recognised the shortage of qualified workers in the industry sectors.
"I'd encourage local businesses to take advantage of the free infection control training available for all workers to get ready for Canberra's safe reopening. Understanding how to operate in a COVID-safe way for your sector will be important for keeping our whole community safe in the months ahead," Mr Steel said.
There will be 575 training places reserved for aged care skills courses and 170 places will be reserved for digital skills. The program will offer a range of full qualifications and short programs.
The first places will be made available before the end of the year, in a move the ACT government said would help school leavers.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT government's investment in boosting skills was an important part of meeting workforce challenges beyond the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We know it's been a difficult couple of years for Canberra's young people and those who have lost employment, but these free training places are a huge opportunity to get the skills needed to build a successful career in many different industries," Mr Barr said.
The $1 billion national JobTrainer program was first launched by the federal government in July last year, with half the funding provided by the states.
There were 5700 places in the ACT under the original scheme, which was also designed to reform funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and the states for the vocational and training education sector.
