Proportions of trade and non-trade apprentices and trainees completing their training have slightly decreased, with the overall completion rate declining from 53.5% to 52.4%, according to the latest data.
Published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2014 provides completion and attrition rates at contract level and individual level, which takes into account movement between employers while undertaking an apprenticeship.
The data show the contract completion rates for trade apprentices and trainees who started training in 2010 declined to 46% down from the 2009 completion rate of 47.9%.
Similarly, contract completion rates for non-trade apprentices and trainees who started training in 2010 slightly declined to 55.8%, from the 2009 completion rate of 56.2%. For non-trade apprentices and trainees who started in 2011, the completion rate is 56%.
“We know that historically about a third of all apprentices and trainees leave within the first year of starting their training, and our research shows that the most commonly cited reason for not completing an apprenticeship or traineeship is employment-related, such as not liking the work or not getting along with colleagues or employers”, said Dr Mette Creaser, National Manager, Statistics and Analytics.
Included in the report are projected contract completion and attrition rates.
“Looking to the future, projections based on the latest data show that completion rates are likely to fluctuate, particularly for trade apprentices and trainees”, said Dr Creaser.
NCVER also released Apprentices and trainees 2014: annual, a yearly summary of apprenticeship and traineeship activity. As at 31 December 2014, 2.7% of Australian workers were employed as an apprentice or trainees, with 12.9% of teenage workers (aged 15 to 19 years) employed as an apprentice or trainee.
Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2014 are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2797.html
Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Apprentices and trainees 2014 – Annual are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2796.html
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