New data from over 200,000 vocational education and training (VET) students shows that satisfaction remains high, with 86.8% of graduates and 90.4% of subject completers satisfied with the overall quality of their training.
The annual National Student Outcomes Survey, managed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), is Australia’s largest survey of VET students and provides information on employment outcomes and training satisfaction for students who completed training at TAFE institutes, universities, community education providers, and private training providers.
Of the 206 944 VET students who responded to the survey, 143 852 were graduates and 63 092 were subject completers.
The data shows that 59.0% of VET graduates reported an improved employment status after training, up 2.2 percentage points from 2017.
It also shows 48.4% of graduates who weren’t employed before training were employed after, up 1.3 percentage points from 2017, and that the median annual income for VET graduates employed in their first full-time job after training was $45 000.
The story is also good for VET graduates who were employed before training, with 18.6% being employed at a higher skill level after training (up 1.5 percentage points from 2017).
“We’ve gathered even more data this year on why some students complete subjects only, rather than full qualifications,” said Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER.
The data show that 34.3% of subject completers, defined as those who successfully completed part of a course and then left the VET system, did so because they got what they wanted from training, 18.3% for personal reasons and 17.3% because they changed their job situation.
While the proportion of subject completers employed after training (85.1%) is similar to 2017, the proportion of those who improved their employment status after training jumped 2.7 percentage points in 2018, to 45.8%.
The full report VET student outcomes 2018 and more information about the survey (including outcomes by provider type) are available on our Portal.
The National Student Outcomes Survey is conducted annually on behalf of the Australian, state and territory governments and includes students who completed a qualification or subject with a VET provider in the previous calendar year. Funding is provided through the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.
About NCVER: we are the principal provider of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector. Our services help promote better understanding of VET and assist policy-makers, practitioners, industry, training providers, and students to make informed decisions.
Enquiries: Helen Wildash, PR and Social Media Officer M: 0448 043 148 E: helenwildash@ncver.edu.au