A young apprentice is considering quitting the job he loves because cost of living pressures are making it increasingly difficult for him to keep learning his trade.
Ryan Nightingale, 24, from Mulgrave in Sydneys north west, is a fourth-year light vehicle mechanical apprentice - a job he long wanted in a trade he loves.
However, the young tradie may have to give it all up because his wage of $850 after tax is too low to live on in one of the worlds most expensive cities, creating a weekly struggle simply to make ends meet.
My life has been impacted significantly with the cost of living and the wages simply do not keep up with inflation, he said.
My tools alone could cost me $10,000, just to complete the tasks in my employment.
The apprentice said he is contemplating leaving the trade he always regarded as his future, and instead working at a gym, solely for financial reasons.
My employer, Apprentices Are Us, and host employer, AA West Automotive in Mulgrave, have been so supportive, he said.
Ryan Nightingale, 24, is a fourth-year light vehicle mechanical apprentice. He always wanted to be a mechanic, but with the low apprentice wages not keeping up with inflation, he is thinking about quitting
The apprentice said his low wages has made life a weekly struggle
Honestly, the only reason I would consider leaving is because of the cost of living pressures on the wages.
The apprenticeship had delivered life-long skills but the financial side of it is hard to make work.
I would love to move out [of my parents home] but the current rents are simply unaffordable, he said.
I have dreams just like every other Aussie, a backyard, a white picket fence and a family.
But how can you even start to save? It is a weekly struggle - I am continually looking to improve my finance position.
Mr Nightingale said although he can still just manage to socialise with his friends, his low income makes it difficult.
[My wage] makes socialising stressful as I need to watch every penny I spend to ensure I have petrol in my car to get to work on Monday, he said.
He is far from alone, with many other tradies forced to down tools even as the country experiences a shortage of workers with manual skills.
I have seen apprentices within my employer come and go, he said.
Its not the conditions or support; it is the cost of living issue that wont go away.
We need to improve the way we view apprenticeships and tradespeople.
Mr Nightingale loves his workplace and his apprenticeship - but his reason for thinking about leaving is based on money alone. He has heard other apprentices leaving their trade for the same reason (pictured the apprentices workplace at AA West Automotive in Mulgrave, NSW)
Mr Nightingale thinks young Australians on an apprenticeship wage are being taken advantage of.
While he may still be able to push through the apprenticeship with the help of family, not everyone in his situation has that kind of back-up.
[For many] it seems like a pipe dream as the costs of everyday items are simple out of control, he said.
Tradespeople are the backbone of the country. I have seen apprentices come and go and when you ask them why, it is generally an affordability concern.
A whopping 60 per cent of automotive apprentices are abandoning their training, according to a report by industry body Capricorn.
The high statistic has the potential to leave Australia with an automotive skills shortage in the not-too-distant-future.
Apprenticeships Are Us Ltd (ARU) general manager Phil Cooksey told Daily Mail Australia that wages not keeping up with inflation, but many businesses are strapped for cash and in no position to pay more.
Apprenticeships Are Us Ltd (ARU) general manager Phil Cooksey (pictured) said apprentice wages are failing to keep up with inflation. A whopping 60 per cent of Australian automotive apprentices are abandoning their training
The current cost of living pressure, especially in the Sydney area, is probably the biggest culprit for people quitting their apprenticeships, he said.
Its unfortunate because completing an apprenticeship offers long-term benefits, including valuable qualifications, real-world experience, and highly competitive pay.
Mr Cooksey said a qualified car mechanic makes around $75,000 a year - but those specialising in heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses can earn $100,000 per annum.
With the strong demand for automotive skills, apprentices who complete their training are likely to find job opportunities in their preferred locations, he said.
Mr Nightingale agrees that finishing his apprenticeship would give him more opportunities and still recommends a trade as an excellent career choice.
But there needs to be something done at a government level with the cost of living, he said.