Australian Skills Guarantee

The Skills Guarantee PCP Version 1 commenced 1 July 2024 and applies where an approach to market was issued prior to 1 October 2025.

The Skills Guarantee PCP Version 1 applies set targets to eligible Australian Government construction procurements with an estimated individual value of $10 million or more. Targets for Australian Government information and communications technology (ICT) procurements with an estimated individual value of $10 million or more were negotiated on a project-by-project basis, based on workforce information provided by suppliers.

From 1 October 2025, the Skills Guarantee PCP Version 1.2 applies set targets to eligible Australian Government ICT procurements with an estimated individual value of $10 million or more. The Skills Guarantee PCP Version 1.2 expands the eligible ICT training pathways with the addition of a Learning Worker and sets targets for Apprentices, Trainees, Learning Workers and Women.

The Skills Guarantee PCP applies to Australian Government procurements in the Construction and ICT sectors, where the procurement has an estimated individual value of $10 million or more.

Major Construction Projects

Major Construction Projects (procurements with an estimated individual value of $10 million or more) are required to meet the following targets:

• Overarching Apprentice Target: a minimum of 10% of all Labour Hours to be undertaken by Apprentices/Trainees.
• Overarching Apprentice Target for Women: a minimum of 6% of all Apprentice/Trainee Labour Hours to be undertaken by Women.
• Trade-specific Apprentice Target for Women: a minimum of 4% of Trade Apprentice/Trainee Labour Hours to be undertaken by Women.

To drive sustainable change, the targets for Women for Major Construction Projects increase annually by one percentage point, reaching a minimum of 12% for Women in Apprenticeships and Traineeships and 10% for Women in Trade Apprenticeships and Traineeships in 2030.

Flagship Construction Projects

Flagship Construction Projects (procurements with an estimated individual value of $100 million or more in the Construction sector) are required to propose more ambitious targets for Women.

Suppliers of Flagship Construction Projects are required to meet the following requirements:

• Meet the targets that apply to Major Construction Projects.
• Set and meet higher, more ambitious targets for Women.
• Provide a Gender Equality Action Plan outlining how targets will be achieved.

Prior to 1 October 2025, targets for Major ICT Projects with an estimated individual value of $10 million or more were negotiated on a project-by-project basis, based on workforce information provided by Suppliers. Please refer to the Skills Guarantee PCP Version 1 for further information.

From 1 October 2025, Major ICT Projects (procurements with an estimated individual value of $10 million or more) are required to meet the following targets:

• Learning Worker Target: a minimum of 5% of all Labour Hours to be undertaken by Learning Workers.
• Learning Worker Target for Women: a minimum of 10% of the Learning Worker Labour Hours to be undertaken by Women.

To drive sustainable change, the Learning Worker Target for Women for Major ICT Projects increase annually by one percentage point, reaching a minimum of 20% in 2030.

For the Learning Worker Target, Microcredential Labour Hours (Labour Hours reported for Learning Workers who have undertaken Microcredentials) should not exceed 20% of the total reported Learning Worker Labour Hours.

For the Learning Worker Target for Women, Microcredential Labour Hours reported for Women should not exceed 20% of the total reported Women Learning Worker Labour Hours.

From 1 October 2025, new High-Value ICT Projects (procurements with an estimated individual value of $50 million or more) are required to meet the following requirements:

• Meet the targets that apply to Major ICT Projects.
• Set and meet higher, more ambitious targets for Women.
• Provide a gender equality action plan outlining how targets will be achieved.

Australian Government agencies and their suppliers are required to use the Apprenticeships Data Management System (ADMS) to report on Skills Guarantee eligible projects. The system can be accessed by visiting the ADMS homepage.

Suppliers who need to report on a Skills Guarantee project, should visit the Australian Skills Guarantee reporting for suppliers and subcontractors webpage for operational guidance on how to use ADMS. This material includes instructions on how to set up an ADMS account and complete various reporting functions. Suppliers should reach out to their contracting agency if they have any questions.

Australian Government agencies should visit the GovTEAMS community page, Australian Skills Guarantee Operational Resources and Stakeholder Engagement, for more information on reporting.

While the Skills Guarantee PCP only applies to direct Australian Government procurements in construction and ICT, we are also working across the government to apply the Skills Guarantee to:

• the National Housing Accord,
• the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,
• the Federation Funding Agreement Schedule on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects (formerly the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects).