The number of people starting a trade apprenticeship has slightly increased in the September 2011 quarter, marking a change from the past three consecutive quarters of falling commencements.
Released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Apprentices and trainees 2011—early trend estimates, September quarter, provides seasonally adjusted data at the national level for trade and non-trade commencements for apprenticeships and traineeships.
The trend indicates that 23 000 people started a trade apprenticeship in the September quarter 2011, up from 22 900 in the previous quarter.
However, the number of non-trade traineeship commencements has slowed for the second consecutive quarter, down to 56 300 in the September quarter from record commencements of 57 100 earlier this year in the March 2011 quarter.
Apprenticeship and traineeship commencements are seen as an indicator of business confidence in the economy, given their close ties to the economic cycle.
NCVER will release detailed apprenticeship and traineeship information next month, with the release of the June 2011 quarterly data. This information will include national and state/territory level in-training, completion, and cancellation and withdrawal data.
Copies of Apprentices and trainees 2011—early trend estimates, September quarter are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2445.html
Media enquiries: Anna Payton, Marketing Officer, or Colleen Young, Marketing Services Manager 08 8230 8400.