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The purpose of this paper is to describe what we know about apprenticeships and traineeships, with a view to assessing the likely impact of the current economic downturn on them.
Key messages
- There is considerable evidence that the downturn has hit apprenticeships, although there appears to be a lesser effect on traineeships..
- In terms of what matters, we argue that it is commencements rather than completions that need attention.
- Policies need to distinguish between apprentices and trainees and take account of the very different circumstances that apply at the occupation level.
- It is important in the debate to remember the genesis of traineeships—the high levels of unemployment in the 1980s. They were primarily seen as a way of reducing unemployment, rather than a skilling strategy. This may be particularly pertinent to disadvantaged groups for which traineeships may be especially important.
Tom Karmel
Managing Director, NCVER
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