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Since 1995 traineeships at certificates I and II level have become
an increasingly important pathway
in young people's transition from school to work. Around 15% of the cohort
of school leavers analysed in this study participated in a traineeship at some
time between the ages of 15 and 21 years. The aim of the study was to compare
the effect of participation in traineeships on labour market outcomes for young
people up to the age of 21 years with those who did not enter into any formal
post-school education and training in the immediate post-school years (that is,
the control group).
- Participation in traineeships was found to have positive effects
on both employment prospects and wages. At the age of 21 years, participants
in traineeships were less likely to be experiencing unemployment
by
comparison with the school leaver control group. Moreover, the wages
of those who had undertaken traineeships were about 6% higher at
the age of 21 years. At the age of 19 years, however, their wages
were initially
lower compared with the control group of school leavers.
- On average, participation in a traineeship was found to result in
greater initial satisfaction with both the type of work undertaken
and future
career prospects; however, these positive effects appear to have largely
dissipated by age 21 years.
- The results suggest strongly the need to take into account longer,
as well as shorter-term outcomes when determining the success
of traineeships in young people's school-to-work transitions.
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