A government spokesperson has responded to calls for re-investment in the education system by Shadow Minister for Education and Training Tanya Plibersek, saying Labor were architects of the greatest damage to the VET sector.

The spokesperson said the federal government had begun the revival of the sector with a $585 million Skills Package, to modernise the vocational education and training sector, including the creation of 80,000 apprenticeships.

The spokesperson said claims of cuts to the sector were a fabrication.

Earlier

A SHORTAGE of skilled workers affecting Bendigo has been blamed on cuts to TAFE and education training.

Shadow Minister for Education and Training Tanya Plibersek called for a re-investment in the education sector, while in Bendigo on Friday.

Bendigo hospitality providers and manufacturing businesses have both previously drawn attention to difficulty attracting skilled workers to their businesses.

Be.Bendigo reported businesses were struggling to find skilled employees in May 2019, after a survey of the city.

Read more: Skills shortage manufacturers hatch plan to compete for workers

Ms Plibersek said small to medium businesses had told her they would love to put on workers, if only they could put on the qualified staff for the jobs they need.

She said almost two million Australians were unemployed or underemployed, at the same time as this skills shortage.

AAP reports Australia's underemployment rate rose to 5.3 per cent in January, while the underemployment rate increased to 8.6 per cent.

"We've seen billions of dollars cut from our schools, our universities and our TAFEs. It's particularly been a real blow to vocational education and training," Ms Plibersek said.

"We've got skills shortages, we've got businesses crying out for skilled staff and we've got 140,000 fewer apprentices and trainees today than when the Liberals came to office.

"We've got shortages right across the board. So we've got welders, we've got sheet metal workers, fitters and turners, hairdressers, child care workers."

Ms Plibersek called for a re-investment in TAFE, employers and unions to make sure Australia was training people for the jobs they needed.

AAP reported in October that the government underspent $214 million on vocational training in 2018-19.

Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash has been approached for comment.

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