Higher-level vocational qualifications: Pathways to where?

Successful completion of diploma and advanced diploma courses provide positive employment outcomes, but these outcomes vary according to students' ages and fields of education.

The research, published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), examined whether higher-level vocational education and training (VET) qualifications lead to employment in occupations requiring higher-level skills, such as medical technical officers, dental hygienists, financial dealers and brokers, property managers and family support workers.

While employment outcomes are good, the study found that many people were employed at an occupational level below that of associate professional, particularly young people (those aged 15 to 24 years).

Approximately 27% of employed young diploma graduates were employed at associate professional level or higher within six months of completing their qualification, rising to 50% 30 months after completing their course.

By comparison, 56% of diploma graduates aged 25 years and over were employed as associate professionals or higher shortly after their study.

'This study reinforces the importance of VET as a pathway to professional employment, particularly for young people,' says Dr Tom Karmel, Managing Director, NCVER.

Analysis showed that 32% of young diploma graduates and 14% of diploma graduates aged 25 years and more went on to university.

ENDS

A copy of Outcomes from higher-level vocational education and training qualifications can accessed from 9.30am EST, from http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1702.html.

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