All publications

Focusing on four vocational streams – financial services, primary industry, healthcare/community… Show more

Focusing on four vocational streams – financial services, primary industry, healthcare/community services and trades/engineering – this paper is an initial exploration of pathways into the labour market and how people actually use these pathways. Show less

This discussion paper introduces the overarching concepts for the three-year research program,… Show more

This discussion paper introduces the overarching concepts for the three-year research program, 'Vocations: the link between post compulsory education and the labour market'. The paper also outlines the key findings from the initial investigations of each of the related research strands in the program. Overall, initial research has found that, due to the fragmentation of pathways within education Show less

What would prompt people to undertake education and training in their mid-20s and beyond and what… Show more

What would prompt people to undertake education and training in their mid-20s and beyond and what are the benefits? The authors investigate what motivates people to undertake education and training at more mature ages and the impact of this on their labour market outcomes. They found that males who undertake further education and training after the age of 25 years did so for reasons related to Show less

This report explores the transitions students make in undertaking a second qualification (i.e.… Show more

This report explores the transitions students make in undertaking a second qualification (i.e. whether they change field of education and/or move between the VET and higher education sectors). Show less

This report examines whether expansion in education has led to credentialism in the workforce. The… Show more

This report examines whether expansion in education has led to credentialism in the workforce. The authors employ the ‘ORU’ model to compare the required level of education for a job and the actual level which is held by an individual in that job. This model defines an individual as being over-educated (O) for their job, having the right level of education (R), or being under-educated (U). Show less

This paper provides a conceptual basis for a three-year (2011–13) research program exploring the… Show more

This paper provides a conceptual basis for a three-year (2011–13) research program exploring the capacity of individuals and groups to make transitions through learning, training and work across locations.  Three research projects will examine how regional or community factors and social capital affect those transitions. The three projects are: the influence of job conditions on geographic Show less

This conference paper was presented to the Third International Congress on Technical and Vocational … Show more

This conference paper was presented to the Third International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, 13–16 May 2012, in Shanghai. It argues that there are two key factors behind Australia's good record of employment for young people: high levels of post-school education with the consequence that there is not a large cohort of people in their mid-to-late teens flooding on Show less

This report aims to improve our understanding of the causes of skill shortages, the way businesses… Show more

This report aims to improve our understanding of the causes of skill shortages, the way businesses respond and the short-term consequences of skill shortages. Show less

This highly-popular annual publication provides a collection of summaries of research projects… Show more

This highly-popular annual publication provides a collection of summaries of research projects published by NCVER in 2011.  Show less

This overview describes research conducted by the University of Canberra which looked at the… Show more

This overview describes research conducted by the University of Canberra which looked at the characteristics of people with vocational qualifications who are self-employed and the differences between the self-employed and employees. Show less

Two features of the labour market for vocationally qualified workers are explored in this technical … Show more

Two features of the labour market for vocationally qualified workers are explored in this technical paper: the likelihood of self-employment versus wage employment and the determinants of income. Show less

One of the significant challenges facing Australia is the ageing of the population. This… Show more

One of the significant challenges facing Australia is the ageing of the population. This challenge has led policy-makers to consider how older workers can be kept in the workforce. To help generate discussion on older workers, NCVER commissioned six researchers to draft essays on various issues around keeping older Australians engaged with the workforce. These essays, and responses by six Show less

This report investigates skill matches to job requirements for workers in Australia, New Zealand,… Show more

This report investigates skill matches to job requirements for workers in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. It might be expected that differences between the four countries in economic growth, technological innovation and structural change in the labour market may have led to differences in job skill requirements and use. This research finds, however, that the broad match of Show less

One of the challenges policy-makers face is the lack of systemic analysis around the concept of… Show more

One of the challenges policy-makers face is the lack of systemic analysis around the concept of labour mobility, especially in relation to how mobility is changing and what can be done to improve it. Case studies of the mining, meat processing and early childhood care occupations and analysis of data from the longitudinal survey Australia at work have been undertaken to explore key issues and Show less

This final report from a three-year research program puts the focus on the ability of VET to… Show more

This final report from a three-year research program puts the focus on the ability of VET to respond to workforce development challenges, particularly in industries characterised as low-skill entry points to the labour market. The key findings highlight the lack of incentive for workers in the meat processing and childcare sectors to train beyond mandatory levels due to casualised working Show less

Looking at apprentice and trainee data and employment data back to 1995, we find that declines in… Show more

Looking at apprentice and trainee data and employment data back to 1995, we find that declines in apprentice commencements lead declines in total trades employment by four quarters, whereas declines in trainee commencements appear to lag declines in employment in non-trade occupations. Based on this historical relationship, the reduction in apprentice and trainee numbers suggested a much larger Show less

Helping people with disability participate in the labour market is one way to enhance their… Show more

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 Show less

This paper was presented at the joint Skills Australia and Industry Skills Councils 2011… Show more

This paper was presented at the joint Skills Australia and Industry Skills Councils 2011 conference,  , at the Crown Conference Centre, Melbourne. It addresses the challenge of measurement in workforce development planning, and discusses the role of the various players in labour markets and the information they need to make optimal decisions. Show less

Increasing productivity by moving people from welfare to employment is a priority for the… Show more

Increasing productivity by moving people from welfare to employment is a priority for the Australian Government. This report considers the complex issues of helping those marginalised from the labour market into employment. Case studies of innovative intermediaries illustrate that both demand and supply factors must feature in order to provide successful assistance to disadvantaged job seekers. Show less

In this paper, Ryan investigates labour market outcomes for a range of different pathways… Show more

In this paper, Ryan investigates labour market outcomes for a range of different pathways undertaken by young people. Show less