The Australian Critical Skills Investment Fund (CSIF) looks set to address skills shortages among thousands of workers in the nation.

Employees in the construction, infrastructure, resource and renewable energy sectors are to benefit from a AU$28 million investment from the central government in the hope of meeting the demand for skilled labor in Australia.

Senator Chris Evans, minister for skills and jobs, said: "Working in partnership with industry is the best way to target our training investment and puts industry at the heart of the training process."

Some 7,500 employees from small, medium and large companies throughout Australia will benefit from the training offered by the CSIF, which is a component of the government's Building Australia's Future Workforce.

According to recent figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, during the last financial year some 45 per cent of unemployed people had been without a job for at least two years.

Posted by Sarah Dixon