Apprentice and trainee completion rates 2025

Purpose

This publication provides insights into completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees in Australia. Rates are presented at three distinct levels: individuals, apprenticeships and traineeships, and contracts of training.

Additional data are available from DataBuilder and on request to NCVER.

For further insights into the outcomes of apprentices and trainees, see Apprentice and trainee outcomes.

Completion rates

The 6-year trade completion rate was 58.7% for the 2019 commencing cohort, up slightly from 58.3% compared with the 2018 cohort. Trade completion rates have increased for every commencing cohort since 2015, indicating a positive long-term trend.

For non-trade apprentices and trainees, the 4-year completion rate was 42.7% for the 2021 commencing cohort, down from 48.8% compared with the 2020 cohort, and the third consecutive decline. This decline aligns with changes to government incentives and changes in the occupational training mix.

NCVER’s Apprentice and Trainee Outcomes 2025 report indicates that, for most apprentice and trainee non-completers, steps could have been taken to encourage them towards completion. The report found that the main reasons for non-completion were dissatisfaction with pay or working conditions, and personal reasons.

Completions, attrition and in-training

Compared with earlier cohorts, 4-year attrition rates have generally increased for non-trade occupations, while 6-year attrition rates for trade occupations have declined slightly.

The proportion of trade apprenticeships still in training after four years was higher for the 2019 commencing cohort than for earlier cohorts, increasing from 8.9% for the 2012 cohort to 15.9% for the 2019 cohort. By six years, the proportion still in training had reduced to 1.8% for the 2019 cohort, indicating trade apprenticeships are taking longer than four years to complete.

More recent data show that the 4-year trade attrition rate for the 2021 commencing cohort was 42.1%, an increase from the 2020 cohort and the highest rate reported across cohorts. While some apprentices who left before completion may recommence training in the same or another apprenticeship, the higher attrition rate may indicate weaker completion outcomes for this cohort.

Time to completion and time to attrition

The average time taken to complete an apprenticeship or traineeship has increased across commencing cohorts, particularly for trade occupations. This is consistent with the higher proportion of trade apprentices remaining in training after four years.

Average time to completion varies considerably across occupations, reflecting differences in training duration and occupational requirements. For example, plumbers took an average of 3 years and 11 months to complete their apprenticeship, compared with 2 years and 4 months for gardeners.

Using a 6-year reference period, the average time to completion for trade apprenticeships increased from 2.8 years for the 2012 commencing cohort to 3.5 years for the 2019 cohort, an increase of around 9 months. The average time to attrition also increased slightly from 1.4 years to 1.6 years.

A similar pattern was observed for non-trade occupations using a 4-year reference period. The average time to completion increased from around 1.2 years for the 2014 commencing cohort to 1.4 years for the 2021 cohort, while the average time to attrition also increased slightly from around 10 months to 1 year.

While average completion times provide an overall measure, the timeframe in which completions occur provide additional insight. Using data for the 2019 commencing cohort, the time taken to complete training differed between trade and non-trade occupations. For non-trade occupations, 88% of completions occurred within two years of commencement. For trade completions, almost three-quarters (73%) occurred between three to five years after commencement.

Attrition for both trade and non-trade occupations tend to occur in the early years of training, with close to one-third of non-trade apprenticeships and traineeships and almost one-fifth of trade apprenticeships ending without completion within the first 12 months.

Trade completions

As trade apprenticeships and traineeships can take up to six (or more) years to complete, the most recent commencing cohort for which a 6-year completion rate can be reported is the 2019 cohort.

Apprenticeships and traineeships undertaken by those in regional and remote areas had the highest completion rate among selected priority groups in 2019 (61.6%). All other priority groups recorded completion rates below the national average.

Despite a small increase overall in trade apprenticeship completion rates after 6 years, changes varied across priority groups between the 2018 and 2019 commencing cohorts. Completion rates increased for females and Indigenous apprentices, while rates declined for regional and remote apprentices, school-based apprentices and apprentices with disability.

For the 2019 commencing cohort, 6-year completion rates were highest for Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers (68.3%), followed by Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers (61.9%) and Construction Trades Workers (59.4%), and lowest for Food Trades Workers (42.5%).

Compared with the 2018 commencing cohort, completion rates increased for Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers and Construction Trades Workers, while Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians recorded the largest decline.

Among the ten trade occupations with the highest number of commencements in 2019, 6-year completion rates were highest for Electricians (71.7%), followed by Mechanical Engineering Trades Workers (67.2%) and Carpenters and Joiners (63.7%). Completion rates were lowest for Cooks (40.6%) and Hairdressers (47.6%).

Compared with the 2018 commencing cohort, the largest increases among these occupations were for Electricians (up 3.2 percentage points) and Carpenters and Joiners (up 2.9 percentage points), while the largest declines were recorded for Mechanical Engineering Trades Workers (down 3.3 percentage points) and Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics (down 2.4 percentage points).

Completion rates varied by provider type, ranging from 50.0% for community education providers to 75.3% for enterprise providers for the 2019 commencing cohort. TAFE institutes, the largest training provider for trade apprenticeships, recorded a completion rate of 59.9%, slightly above the overall average of 58.7%. Differences in completion rates by provider type reflect variations in the occupations, learners, and employers served by each training provider type, as well as differences in training delivery arrangements across jurisdictions.

Completion rates also varied by employer type. Most trade apprenticeships commenced with private sector employers, where the completion rate was 57.7%. Group training organisations (GTOs) reported a completion rate of 61.5%, steadily rising over the previous four cohorts, while government organisations, which accounted for a small share of trade apprenticeships, recorded the highest completion rate (80.4%).

Trade commencements tend to be concentrated among smaller employers, with around half commencing with businesses employing fewer than 20 employees. Completion rates generally increase with employer size, ranging from 55.3% for micro employers (up to 4 employees) to 65.9% for large employers (200 or more employees).

Non-trade completions

As non-trade apprenticeships and traineeships can take up to four years to complete, the most recent commencing cohort for which a 4-year completion rate can be reported is the 2021 cohort.

School-based apprentices and trainees had the highest completion rate among priority groups in 2021 (60.9%), well above the overall non-trade completion rate (42.7%). Females, regional and remote apprentices and trainees, and those with disability also recorded completion rates above the overall rate, while Indigenous apprentices and trainees and those speaking a language other than English at home recorded lower completion rates.

The non-trade 4-year completion rate declined between the 2020 and 2021 commencing cohorts for all selected priority groups. School-based apprentices and trainees continued to record the highest completion rate, despite recording a lower completion rate than the 2020 cohort. The largest decline was recorded for apprentices and trainees speaking a language other than English at home, followed by females and those with disability.

Completion rates declined across all non-trade occupation groups between the 2020 and 2021 commencing cohorts. Machinery Operators and Drivers recorded the highest 4-year completion rate (47.9%), followed by Community and Personal Service Workers (46.4%) and Labourers (45.7%).

The largest national declines were recorded for Clerical and Administrative Workers and Sales Workers, while Machinery Operators and Drivers recorded a nominal decline.

Among the ten non-trade occupations with the highest number of commencements in 2021, 4-year completion rates were highest for Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers (55.4%), followed by Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers (53.3%) and Child Carers (52.2%). Completion rates were lowest for Office Managers (26.6%), Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks (31.9%) and Hospitality Workers (32.8%).

Compared with the 2020 commencing cohort, completion rates declined across the top 10 non-trade occupations. The largest declines were recorded for General Clerks (down 13.4 percentage points), Sales Assistants (down 11.6 percentage points) and Office Managers (down 9.0 percentage points).

Private training providers delivered most non-trade apprenticeships and traineeships. For the 2021 commencing cohort, completion rates ranged from 40.3% for private training providers to 53.3% for enterprise providers. While enterprise providers recorded the highest completion rates, they accounted for a relatively small share of commencements. Differences in completion rates by provider type reflect variations in the occupations, learners and employers served by each training provider type, as well as differences in training delivery arrangements across jurisdictions.

Completion rates were highest for apprentices and trainees employed by government organisations, however most apprenticeships and traineeships commenced with private-sector employers. For the 2021 commencing cohort, completion rates were 66.9% for non-trade apprentices employed by government organisations, compared with 57.7% employed through a group training provider, and 40.3% for those employed in the private sector.

Non-trade apprenticeships and traineeships tend to be concentrated among medium and large employers, with around 70% of commencements in businesses employing 20 or more employees. Completion rates generally increased with employer size, ranging from 37.5% for small employers (5–19 employees) to 47.5% for large employers (200 or more employees).

Contract completions

For trade contracts commencing in 2019, 44.3% had completed within 6 years, up slightly from 43.6% for those commencing in 2018. Trade contract completion rates have remained largely stable since 2014.

Contract completion rates for non-trade occupations have declined substantially over time, from a 4-year completion rate of 58.7% for those commencing in 2012 down to to 41.4% for the 2021 cohort.

An individual may participate in more than one contract related to an apprenticeship or traineeship. This can occur when apprentices or trainees change employers, suspend and later recommence training, or commence a new training contract. When calculating contract completion rates, each contract is counted separately, whereas at the apprenticeship level, multiple contracts are combined into a single outcome. The contract completion rate will therefore tend to be lower than the apprenticeship completion rate.

Additional data on contract completion rates are available from NCVER’s DataBuilder.

Individual completion rates

For individuals commencing a trade apprenticeship in 2019 (50,175 commencements), 63.4% had completed within 6 years, up slightly from 62.7% for those who commenced in 2018, and the highest rate recorded since 2012 (64.4%).

For individuals who commenced a non-trade apprenticeship in 2021 (89,515 commencements), 44.8% had completed within 4 years, down from 51.9% for those who commenced in 2020. Completion rates have declined over time, from 62.1% for those who commenced in 2012.

Individual completion rates are generally higher than apprenticeship and contract completion rates because an individual is recorded as having completed if they successfully complete any apprenticeship or traineeship they undertake. While apprenticeship and contract completion rates relate to specific training events or contracts, individual completion rates are based on whether a person completes at least one apprenticeship or traineeship.

Additional data on contract completion rates are available from NCVER’s DataBuilder.

Additional notes

1. Apprenticeship and traineeship completion rates are calculated using three measures:

   • Individual: the proportion of people who have completed at least one apprenticeship or traineeship.
   • Apprenticeship: the proportion of apprenticeships or traineeships that are completed, which may have involved one or more training contracts and employers.
   • Contract: the proportion of individual training agreements between an employer and apprentice or trainee that are completed.
2. Completion and attrition rates are reported for apprentices and trainees who commenced in the same year and measure outcomes within a specified number of years after commencement. Using a consistent reference period allows rates to be compared across different commencing cohorts.
3. Breaks in training, such as changes of employer, suspensions, or movement between apprenticeships and traineeships, can extend the time between commencement and completion. As trade apprenticeships often take six (or more) years to complete, NCVER recommends using a 6-year reference period for trade occupations and a 4-year reference period for non-trade occupations.
4. The report includes completion rates “to date” based on the most recent data available. These rates may increase as more apprentices and trainees who are still in training complete, so caution should be exercised when interpreting or comparing these rates.

5. Completion rates in this report are presented in two ways:

   • Fixed reference period: the proportion completing within a set time after commencement (e.g., four or six years).
   • Ongoing or “to date”: the proportion completing using the most recent data available.
6. Further information about the methodology is available in the technical paper Apprentices and trainees: completion and attrition rate methodologies for apprenticeships, individuals, and contracts.
7. Occupations are classified according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), 2022 Australian Update.
8. NCVER classifies trade occupations as those in ANZSCO major group 3 (Technicians and Trades Workers) and non-trade occupations as those in all other ANZSCO major groups (1–2 and 4–8). This classification provides a consistent basis for reporting, as occupations approved for apprenticeships and traineeships vary across jurisdictions.
9. Commencements are rounded to the nearest five, which may result in some values rounding to zero. As a result of rounding, numbers in the body of a table might not sum to the rounded totals.
10. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place using unrounded data.
11. Values are shown as ‘n/a’ where they are based on 5 or fewer records (using rounded commencement figures), where a rate cannot be derived because one or more values are zero, or where insufficient time has elapsed to calculate the specified rate. Data are suppressed where no data are reported for the selected categories or period.
12. Data on employer type and size submitted for South Australia include minor classification issues, with employer size records reported as unknown, and some group training employer records classified as private sector employers. Overall completion, attrition and in-training rates are unaffected.
13. Data are derived from the latest National Apprentice and Trainee Collection (no. 127, March 2026 estimates), using data to 31 December 2025, which is compiled under the Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS) for Apprentice and Trainee Collection Specifications, Release 7.0, October 2015.

SOURCE: National Centre for Vocational Education Research 2026, National Apprentice and Trainee collection no. 127, March 2026 estimates, NCVER, Adelaide.