News & Events
Higher-level skills highly sought
30 June 2010
Student enrolments in diploma qualifications in Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector increased by 17% in 2009, up from 135 300 in 2008 to 157 800.
Released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Australian vocational education and training statistics, Students and courses, 2009 provides an annual, national snapshot of student enrolments and training activity.
Student enrolments in Certificate IV qualifications also rose, from 190 200 in 2008 to 218 500 enrolments in 2009, an increase of 15%.
Ms Sandra Pattison, General Manager, Statistics, NCVER, said these increases were largely consistent with expectations.
“In times of economic uncertainty like we experienced last year, there are less job opportunities, so people look to boost their skills to get a job or remain competitive”.
Overall, the total number of students undertaking publicly funded training remained steady at 1.7 million, with an increase of 7.3% in hours of delivery from 409 million in 2008 to 439 million hours in 2009.
“This increase in delivery hours is in line with the greater demand for higher level skills. The longer people train, the greater the hours”, said Ms Pattison.
Of 1.7 million students, just over 1.3 million studied at a TAFE or other government provider, 151 900 studied at a community education provider and 230 200 studied with a private training provider.
Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics, Students and courses, 2009 is available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2264.html
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