All publications

Apprentices aren't what they used to be, or are they?

Apprentices aren't what they used to be, or are they? Show less

This paper aims to explain the extent to which variation in apprenticeship completion rates can be… Show more

This paper aims to explain the extent to which variation in apprenticeship completion rates can be attributed to factors relating to 'culture' of the employer and apprentice.  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

This paper updates an earlier paper by Karmel and Mlotkowski and looks at how the probability of… Show more

This paper updates an earlier paper by Karmel and Mlotkowski and looks at how the probability of getting a job, in addition to wages, impacts on completion rates. It finds that for trade apprentices the premium (or extra wage completing an apprenticeship brings) attached to becoming a tradesperson is a significant factor, whereas for non-trade trainees the training wage matters more. It also Show less

Pre-apprenticeship programs have attracted a great degree of interest from employers and training… Show more

Pre-apprenticeship programs have attracted a great degree of interest from employers and training providers as one means of increasing apprentice satisfaction and completion rates, by providing an introduction to the trade. We test this proposition using data from the 2010 Apprentice and Trainee Destination Survey. We find that the impact of pre-apprenticeships varies with occupation and prior Show less

The NCVER Apprentice and Destination Survey collected, among other things, data on reasons for not… Show more

The NCVER Apprentice and Destination Survey collected, among other things, data on reasons for not completing an apprenticeship or traineeship. This paper finds that poor working conditions or non-sympathetic bosses or workmates have an immediate effect for many. By contrast, the desire to do something different (such as study at university) or better (such as getting a better paid job) remains Show less

The purpose of this paper is to describe what we know about apprenticeships and traineeships, with… Show more

The purpose of this paper is to describe what we know about apprenticeships and traineeships, with a view to assessing the likely impact of the current economic downturn on them. Show less

This report examines the costs that both employers and apprentices incur for undertaking training… Show more

This report examines the costs that both employers and apprentices incur for undertaking training in the plumbing and electrical industries. The importance of understanding costs is fundamental. Employers will not take on apprentices if the cost is too high, and prospective apprentices will not undertake an apprenticeship if the future benefits (increased wages) do not outweigh the immediate Show less

Trade apprenticeships in Australia from 1967 to 2006 are modelled in this paper. These models are… Show more

Trade apprenticeships in Australia from 1967 to 2006 are modelled in this paper. These models are used to understand how apprentice numbers in the trades respond to changes in labour market conditions. The models also allow commentary on the impact of recent government policy initiatives on trade apprentices. The paper finds that some trade apprenticeships are particularly sensitive to labour Show less

Vocational education and training (VET) is much more important to young people than might be… Show more

Vocational education and training (VET) is much more important to young people than might be immediately apparent. This paper focuses on how young people participate in vocational education and training, what they study and their outcomes. Of particular note is the importance of VET for those young people who do not proceed on the conventional academic path of 12 years of school followed by Show less

This paper models completions for traditional apprenticeships on the basis of commencements from… Show more

This paper models completions for traditional apprenticeships on the basis of commencements from 1995 to 2005. These models are used to understand the dynamics of the relationship between commencements and completions in order to predict the number of future completions. On the basis of the models, it is expected that completions will increase in the future. The models allow the paper to comment Show less

The growth of apprenticeships and traineeships between 1997 and 2003 is examined in this report,… Show more

The growth of apprenticeships and traineeships between 1997 and 2003 is examined in this report, with a specific focus on age and sex. The research found apprenticeships and traineeships changed dramatically during this period, with the range of occupations widening, part-time apprenticeships and traineeships now common, and apprenticeships and traineeships no longer the preserve of the young male Show less

Assessing annual training participation targets requires accurate information but when the tool for … Show more

Assessing annual training participation targets requires accurate information but when the tool for measuring participation rates includes information that is updated every five years, how accurate are the estimations in the intervening years? Show less

Parental influence plays a significant role in their children's educational aspirations.

Parental influence plays a significant role in their children's educational aspirations. Show less

Increasing education levels are contributing to improved productivity.

Increasing education levels are contributing to improved productivity. Show less

The purpose of this research is to examine whether, for those who have left full-time education, a… Show more

The purpose of this research is to examine whether, for those who have left full-time education, a low-skill job provides them with a good start to their working lives. It was found that starting out in a low-skill job gives lower payoffs than starting out in a high-skill job. Five years after leaving  full-time education, the wage penalty (after conditioning on education and other Show less

The authors of this paper explore whether low socioeconomic status (SES) students benefit to a… Show more

The authors of this paper explore whether low socioeconomic status (SES) students benefit to a greater or lesser extent from attending high-quality schools when compared with their more advantaged peers. Show less

This paper was written to encourage policy-makers to think about how to measure socioeconomic… Show more

This paper was written to encourage policy-makers to think about how to measure socioeconomic status (SES). It also provides some data on socioeconomic status and tertiary education participation and speculates about the likely impact of an expansion in higher education on those from a low socioeconomic background. Show less

This report uses Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) data to look at the impact of… Show more

This report uses Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) data to look at the impact of schools on a student’s tertiary entrance rank (TER) and the probability of them going to university (controlling for TER). Show less

The distinction between VET and higher education in Australia is blurring. The purpose of… Show more

The distinction between VET and higher education in Australia is blurring. The purpose of this paper is to examine – through the conduct of a case study of engineering qualifications (AQF6) delivered in Victoria – how education and training providers and students are likely to respond to different fees and funding arrangements under the student entitlement model. Show less