The number of people starting a trade apprenticeship has decreased for the third consecutive quarter, showing the strong growth in commencements recorded a year ago has slowed.
Released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Apprentices and trainees 2011—early trend estimates, June quarter, provides seasonally adjusted data at the national level for trade and non-trade commencements for apprenticeships and traineeships.
The trend indicates that 21 800 people started a trade apprenticeship in the June quarter 2011, down from 24 300 in the June quarter 2010, on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The number of non-trade traineeship commencements also slowed when compared with previous quarters, with 55 900 new trainees starting training in the June quarter 2011 compared with 56 900 in the March quarter 2011.
Apprenticeships and traineeships 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 later this month, with the release of the March 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, June quarter are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2411.html
Media enquiries: Anna Payton, Marketing Officer 08 8230 8400.