The number of students enrolled in certificate IV and diploma level qualifications increased last year, up 16.3% and 20.2% respectively from 2009.
Released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Students and courses 2010 provides an annual snapshot of publicly funded training activity by enrolments, completions and training activity.
From certificate II to diploma, the number of enrolments rose in 2010, with 1.4 million students undertaking formal qualifications, an increase of 8.5% from 2009.
Ms Sandra Pattison, General Manager, Statistics, NCVER said the increased enrolments is good news for students and employers.
“We know that students who complete higher-level qualifications get higher salaries and better job opportunities, and employers benefit because their staff is more highly-skilled”, says Ms Pattison.
Overall, the total number of students enrolled in the public vocational education and training reached 1.8 million last year, an increase of 5.4% from 2009.
The number of students enrolled in government funded training increased by 6.7% to 1.4 million students in 2010, with 928 000 students studying at a TAFE or other government provider, up 1.8% from 911 300 in 2009.
The number of students undertaking publicly funded training at a private training provider grew 34% in 2010, up from 230 200 enrolments in 2009 to 308 500.
Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Students and courses 2010 are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2383.html
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