All publications

This report explores occupations that can be entered into via either a vocational education and… Show more

This report explores occupations that can be entered into via either a vocational education and training (VET) pathway or a higher education pathway. It examines whether these individuals do the same job tasks and roles, if there are differences in how well the qualifications prepare them for the role and whether they have the same occupation and employment outcomes, such as salary and career Show less

This paper is a discussion of existing work by NCVER and others on the role of VET in preparing… Show more

This paper is a discussion of existing work by NCVER and others on the role of VET in preparing individuals for the current and future workforce. Show less

This guide presents an analytic framework that summarizes some of the main elements and issues that … Show more

This guide presents an analytic framework that summarizes some of the main elements and issues that need to be considered in measuring ROI. This includes establishing the scope, context and purpose for measuring ROI, adopting guiding principles, identifying costs, benefits and factors that impact on ROI, and approaches to data collection and analysis. Show less

The report presents an analysis of nationally recognised ‘training package’ skill sets, and shows… Show more

The report presents an analysis of nationally recognised ‘training package’ skill sets, and shows how both skill sets numbers and reported enrolments have grown in recent years. Show less

This ‘No Frills’ 2019 discussion paper explores how, as jobs and industries develop, workers will… Show more

This ‘No Frills’ 2019 discussion paper explores how, as jobs and industries develop, workers will require ongoing upskilling and reskilling to maintain their position in the workforce. Show less

This analysis looks at the relationship between emerging technologies and required skills, and… Show more

This analysis looks at the relationship between emerging technologies and required skills, and offers key findings for the VET sector to consider in planning training packages for the future. Show less

With labour market challenges on the increase due to the digital revolution and automation, this… Show more

With labour market challenges on the increase due to the digital revolution and automation, this report investigates what other nations are doing to address this issue. Show less

This paper captures the views arising from a symposium held on 9 August 2016, at which participants … Show more

This paper captures the views arising from a symposium held on 9 August 2016, at which participants considered training product reform from the perspective of industry, educators, students and regulators. Show less

Disability can significantly disrupt educational attainment, negatively impacting on employment… Show more

Disability can significantly disrupt educational attainment, negatively impacting on employment prospects, career development and lifetime earnings. What can be done to help support students with a disability or mental illness? Show less

This study goes beyond looking at how the financial return to training varies with qualification… Show more

This study goes beyond looking at how the financial return to training varies with qualification level and investigates the relationship between literacy skills and the incomes of workers in the Australian labour market and whether this varies with level of education.  Show less

This research shows that older Australians use computers and the internet less than younger… Show more

This research shows that older Australians use computers and the internet less than younger Australians. Therefore, in the short term, information and services aimed at older Australians will need to be provided in additional ways. Show less

This report comes out of a three-year program of research that aims to investigate how best the… Show more

This report comes out of a three-year program of research that aims to investigate how best the tertiary education and training system might be organised to maintain the employability of Australian workers across their working lives. 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

In recent decades Australian immigration policy has focused mostly on accepting high-skilled… Show more

In recent decades Australian immigration policy has focused mostly on accepting high-skilled migrants. This report explores the question of whether participation in further training differs for these migrants compared with that of native-born workers in similar jobs. The research shows that foreign-born workers in Australia seem to receive the training they need, but this depends on whether or 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

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

This paper was presented at the International Symposium on Lifelong Learning for Poverty… Show more

This paper was presented at the International Symposium on Lifelong Learning for Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development: Developing a Research Agenda for the Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong, 12-13 January 2011. Tom Karmel suggests that there are four implications of an ageing population: the need to improve labour force participation and productivity; the ageing population will provide a Show less

This report describes the characteristics of those who continue to work beyond the age of 65.

This report describes the characteristics of those who continue to work beyond the age of 65. Show less

Reforms in the tertiary education sector place student transitions between vocational education and … Show more

Reforms in the tertiary education sector place student transitions between vocational education and training (VET) and university at the fore. Informed by existing structures between Deakin University and three Victorian TAFE institutes, this project explores the notion of credit transfer in practice, as well as describing learning pathways available through enterprise-based training. Ideas for Show less