MARK Wilkinson recently completed a four-year carpentry apprenticeship and is ready to start his career in the construction industry. But like a growing number of his fellow graduates, he's not 21 and living at home - Wilkinson is 38, with two children to support.

After working in sales and account management for years, a stint helping out a mate as an unskilled labourer prompted him to reconsider his career path.

Big sacrifice: Mark Wilkinson had to live off money saved for a mortgage while doing his apprenticeship. Credit:Mal Fairclough

''I really enjoyed the hands-on labouring work but realised I couldn't go on that way through my life unskilled,'' he says.

''An apprenticeship is really a pillar to work from, even if you don't end up using it directly.''