Apprentice and trainee completion rates increase

Media release

3 August 2017

The proportion of apprentices and trainees completing their training has increased to 61.4% according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

Data in Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2016 are calculated by tracking the outcomes of apprentices and trainees who started their training in 2012, recognising the time it takes to complete an apprenticeship/traineeship.

Completion rates for individuals who started in 2012, which take account of apprentices and trainees moving between employers while undertaking their training, have increased to 58.8% for trade occupations (up from 57.3% for those starting in 2011) and 60.9% for non-trade occupations (up from 58.4%).

Across occupations, individual completion rates range from 72.9% for hospitality, retail and service managers to 42% for food preparation assistants.

“We know that about a third of all apprentices and trainees leave within the first year of starting their apprenticeship and traineeship, usually because of a change in their job situation”, said Dr Mette Creaser, National Manager, Statistics and Analytics.

Included in the publication are the latest and projected contract completion and attrition rates, which suggest rates will remain steady for the next year.

NCVER has also released Apprentices and trainees 2016 — annual, a yearly summary of apprenticeship and traineeship activity. It shows that 2.2% of Australian workers were employed as an apprentice or trainee as at December 2016, a slight decline from the previous year.

Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2016, are available from <https://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/publications/all-publications/completion-and-attrition-rates-for-apprentices-and-trainees-2016>.

Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Apprentices and trainees 2016 — annual are available from <https://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/publications/all-publications/apprentices-and-trainees-2016-annual>.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Department of Education and Training.

Media contact: Deanne Loan, T: 08 8230 8496, M: 0413 523 691