Job hunters are turning to building as a career after joining Covid 19's unemployment ranks.

Helping them will be the Government's new $380 million boost to assist employers taking on new apprentices.

LT McGuinness construction manager Sean McGuinness told Mike Hosking it's good to see more people looking to work in the trade sector, as it's an under-valued career path.

"There's obviously a lot of Covid affected industries out there, be it tourism, aviation and the like, and there's people out there who are looking at retraining."

Trade businesses will be given up to $16,000 to help pay for apprentices' costs over the first two years.

McGuinness says this will help an industry facing trade shortages in recent years.

"This is really going to incentify a lot of employers to take on new trainees and really future proof trades people in New Zealand for the next decade, I believe."