This report examines the responsiveness of ‘older’ workers — aged 25 to 54 years — to government subsidies for upskilling and explores how enrolment and course choice responses varies by age, gender and disadvantage.
Enrolments have increased since the implementation of the Victorian Training Guarantee between July 2009 and January 2011 but has this first round of VET reforms led to improved outcomes for all learners?
Helping people with disability participate in the labour market is one way to enhance their economic and social well-being. However, low levels of education among people with disability generally can hinder their participation. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, this study looks at the role of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications not just in labour market outcomes for people with disability but in improving their working conditions. Whether post-school qualifications lessen the impact of disability onset is also examined. Completing a VET qualification is found to improve the rates of full-time employment in the longer term for those previously out of work or working part-time. With this comes greater financial independence.
Using both the 1995 and 1998 cohorts of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth, this study investigates the motivations for and the education and employment outcomes from working while studying for both VET and higher education students.
Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia surveys, the report finds that for people who are not working, completing a VET qualification does increase the chance of employment and more so for people with a disability.