Overall 171 200 people started apprenticeships and traineeships in 2015, 10.1% fewer than in 2014, but trade commencements showed signs of stabilising at year’s end according to the latest apprentice and trainee data.
Published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), the data show there were
88 800 non-trades commencements in 2015, 17.9% fewer than in 2014, with commencements declining in:
- community and personal services workers, down 8800 or 23.5%
- clerical and administrative workers, down 4900 or 21.4%
- sales workers, down 2600 or 14.0%.
While trade commencements were down 11.1% in the December 2015 quarter compared with the December 2014 quarter, over the 2015 year there were 0.3% more trade commencements than in 2014. Rises were recorded in construction trade workers (up 4000 or 20.0%), in particular in plumbers (up 1900 or 30.7%) and bricklayers, carpenters and joiners (up 1300 or 12.3%).
As at 31 December 2015, there were 278 600 apprentices and trainees in-training, 11.8% fewer than at 31 December 2014.
Over the 2015 year, completions decreased 24.0% to 118 600 and cancellations and withdrawals decreased 10.6% to 98 200 compared with apprenticeship and traineeship activity over the same period in 2014.
“The flow-on from fewer people starting apprenticeships and traineeships is fewer apprentices and trainees in-training and fewer completing”, said Dr Mette Creaser, National Manager, Statistics and Analytics.
Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Apprentices and trainees 2015, December quarter are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2863.html
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.
NCVER is the national custodian of data about Australia’s VET system, including apprentice and trainee data. It is a not-for-profit, independent company owned by the Commonwealth, state and territory Ministers responsible for training.
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