Latest national training activity statistics released

7 July 2006

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released the latest training activity statistics for Australia's publicly funded vocational education and training (VET) system.

Statistics include the number of students and training hours, the qualifications enrolled in and the type of funding.

There were 1.64 million students who undertook publicly funded training in 2005, an increase of 2.9% compared with 2004. This equates to one in nine people in Australia's population aged between 15 and 64 years undertaking training in the public VET system.

Vocational education and training continues to be a popular choice for young people (those aged between 15 and 19 years). In 2005, students in this age group increased by 4.5%, to 374  200, or 27% of Australia's population aged between 15 and 19 years.

Student numbers increased from 2004 to 2005 in all states and territories except Victoria (4.5% decrease). The largest increases occurred in New South Wales (8.6%) and the Northern Territory (8.2%).

A profile of student enrolments shows:

• 40% of students were aged 24 years or less
• 51.6% of students were male
• 89.4% of students studied part-time.

About half of all students were enrolled in an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) certificate III qualification or higher.

Management and commerce remained the most common field of education, despite a 4.8% decline in student numbers. Engineering and related technologies, and mixed field programs were the next most popular courses.

ENDS

An electronic copy of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Students and courses 2005 – Summary can be accessed from 9.30am EST today, from http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1698.html.

Media enquiries to: Anna Payton, Marketing Officer, or Colleen Young, Manager, Marketing Services on +61 8 8230 8400.