The chamber's call is in response to the report Skilling Australia for a better future: Supporting apprenticeships through COVID-19 produced by Business NSW on the impact of the pandemic on apprenticeships.

Executive director Adam Zarth said prior to the report it was known that apprentices were doing it tough. But no one realised how tough. He said more than 50,000 young people need help getting into apprenticeships across Australia.

"These findings show that the number of apprentices commencing in 2020 will be more than 30 per cent lower," Mr Zarth said.

"That's around 1,800 predominately young people missing out on the opportunity to upskill, reskill and get a job here in the Illawarra/South East region alone. Without significant intervention, the number of apprentices in training in 2021 will fall to levels not seen since 1998.

"Given the scale of the impact, Government must act now to make any inroads into turning the trend around, including by providing employers with a significant subsidy for new starter apprentice wages."

The chamber wants to see the Supporting Apprentices and Trainees subsidy continue past September 30.

And young people having access to an industry-supported pre-apprenticeship program. Support for Group Training Organisations is also crucial for apprentices and their employers.

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