Australian apprenticeships: Research at a glance

Apprentice and trainee activity 1995 - 2000

'Research at a glance' provides a summary of the most comprehensive research ever undertaken into Australia's apprenticeship system.

Key issues emerging from the research include:

• fiction and facts
• what are apprenticeships?
• the massive growth of apprenticeships
• Australian apprenticeships in an international context
• the changing structure of apprenticeships
• the broadening occupational base of Australian apprenticeships
• apprenticeships for all ages
• the changing characteristics of apprenticeships
• where do apprentices live?
• completions and attrition
• the outcomes from apprenticeships, traineeships and new apprenticeships
• future directions: expanding new apprenticeships
• future directions: rethinking the apprenticeship concept for the new century
• milestones in the development of Australian apprenticeships
• references
• copyright information

This 'research at a glance' is based on the two volumes:

Australian apprenticeships: Facts, fiction and future
A comprehensive analysis of the development of apprenticeships in Australia (including the introduction of traineeships and new apprenticeships).The rapid growth and transformation of the system over the past decade is examined in detail and proposals for the future of apprenticeships in Australia are explored.

Australian apprenticeships: Research readings
Reports the findings of 11 new research studies into various aspects of apprenticeships, traineeships and new apprenticeships.

• Apprenticeships in Australia are more popular than ever, with numbers having grown rapidly in the last five years to reach 275 000 in June 2000 ^(a) . Numbers have continued to increase reaching around 295 000 in December 2000.
• The rapid expansion of the system beyond the traditional trades, far from being a problem, means that new apprenticeships now reflect the structure of the Australian labour market better than ever before.
• The opening up of the system to people of all ages has not meant a reduction of opportunities for young people. It means Australia?s apprenticeship system is adjusting to global changes in the nature of work and the rapid ageing of the population better than the apprenticeship systems in any other countries at present.
• The employment retention outcomes from apprenticeships, traineeships and new apprenticeships are very good. Over 90% of new apprentices are employed three months after completion of their apprenticeship.This compares very favourably against the employment outcomes of TAFE and university graduates, which are nevertheless also very good.
• The long-term labour market prospects of apprentices at the equivalent of Certificate III level or higher are second only to university graduates in terms of the higher rates of employment and the lowest rates of unemployment. Qualified apprentices have the highest rates of full-time employment and self-employment in Australia.The employment outcomes of people who have done a shorter traineeship at Certificate I or II level are not as good but are better than those of people who have no post-school qualifications.
• The analysis suggests there is potential for the size of the system to grow to over 400 000 apprentices. National action to target growth in the apprenticeship system to higher skill areas of the labour market, particularly in the associate professional and technician occupations, is proposed.

(a) This was the figure published for June 2000. It has since been revised to around 280 000.