NCVER

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Data are presented by the state or territory of the senior secondary assessment authority.

The estimated participation rate is calculated using state of data submitter as a proxy for state of residence due to the high number of records with an unknown residential address.

Data for calculating the participation rate are sourced from the NCVER National VET in Schools Collection, and Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2024, Schools, Table 42b Number of Full-time and Part-time Students, 2006-2024.

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2025

For details and exceptions visit the NCVER Portal.

This document should be attributed as NCVER 2025, VET in schools 2024, NCVER, Adelaide.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government, and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of NCVER and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or state and territory governments.

TD/TNC  160.09

Published by NCVER, ABN 87 007 967 311

THIS PUBLICATION HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED.

For the most recent release please see the Apprentices and trainees collection page.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Unless stated otherwise, data are derived from the latest National Apprentice and Trainee Collection (no. 124, June 2025 estimates), using data up until 31 March 2025, which is compiled under the Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS) for Apprentice and Trainee Collection Specifications, Release 7.0, October 2015.
2. Due to the delay in time between an event (commencement, completion, etc.) occurring and the reporting of that event to NCVER, NCVER estimates the most recent figures. The estimation method involves weighting recently processed numbers based on average reporting lags. As estimates are revised for up to seven quarters, figures for the last two years may differ from those published in earlier or subsequent reports. The final counts are those submitted by jurisdictions. Further details on the methodology can be found in the Estimation of apprentice and trainee statistics technical paper.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia brought about significant uncertainty for individuals, businesses, and governments. The resulting suspension of normal economic activities, combined with various government and economic interventions, has impacted apprentice and trainee numbers. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting and comparing data from 2020 onwards.
4. In-training figures represent the number of apprenticeship and traineeship training contracts where the apprentice or trainee is actively training under the terms of their contract, and who have not completed, cancelled or withdrawn from their training, or had their training contract expired. The figure reflects the number of active contracts at a given point in time (at the end of the quarter), and therefore in-training figures cannot be cumulated over time. For this reason, quarterly comparisons are equivalent to 12-months ending comparisons, as they both represent the changes as at 31 March from one year to the next.
5. Note that the percentages presented in this product are reported to one decimal place. All other numbers, after aggregation, have been rounded to the nearest five. Rounding can lead to instances where the numbers in the body of a given table might not add to the rounded totals.
6. Unknown data have not been reported in any tables, whereas the total includes all contracts, including those with unknown status. Hence, some figures in the tables may not sum to the total.
7. Whilst the report is limited to data on contract commencements, in-training, completions and cancellations/withdrawals, data on contract recommencements, expiries and suspensions are available in VOCSTATS.
8. As the vocations approved to be under an apprenticeship or traineeship training contract are not consistent across all jurisdictions, NCVER has adopted a Trade/Non-trade categorisation for the purpose of the National Apprentices and Trainees Collection with 'Trades' classified as all occupations listed under ANZSCO major group '3-Technicians and Trades workers' and 'Non-trades' classified as all other major occupations groups 1-2 and 4-8 (Occupations are classified using the ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022 Australian Update).

This infographic is drawn from Australian vocational education and training statistics: apprentices and trainees 2025 — March quarter, NCVER, Adelaide.

SOURCE: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), National Apprentice and Trainee collection no. 124, June 2025 estimates, Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2025, June). Labour Force, Australia, Detailed. cat. no. 6291.0.55.001, see https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release.

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2025

For details and exceptions visit the NCVER Portal.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government, and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of NCVER and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or state and territory governments.

ISSN  1440-0359

Published by NCVER, ABN 87 007 967 311

To access the most recently released DataBuilder for Apprentices and trainees quarterly, please see the Apprentices and trainees collection page.

The DataBuilder tool allows users to quickly create customised tables using the latest Apprentice and trainee data, filter by a selection of variables and compare training activity over time. Users can view quarterly, year-to-date and rolling 12-month data for commencements, recommencements, completions, cancellations/withdrawals and in-training.

THIS PUBLICATION HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED.

For the most recent release please see the Total VET students and courses collection page.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Caution should be used when comparing trends, as 2024 NSW figures are likely overstated. For further details, see the explanatory notes in the download section of the page.

Data sources for population figures in Table 2:

Females: Australian Bureau of Statistics, National, State and Territory population, (June) Quarterly Population Estimates by State/Territory, Sex and Age, Extracted May 2025.
Indigenous: Projected population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, States and Territories, 2021 to 2031
Disability: Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics
Remoteness: Regional population, 2023-24 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics
Age group: Quarterly Population Estimates (ERP), by State/Territory, Sex and Age
School students: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2024), Schools, ABS Website, accessed 21 May 2025
Full-time study: Australian Bureau of Statistics (May 2024), Education and Work, Australia, ABS Website, accessed 21 May 2025
Unemployed: Labour Force: Age Groups

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2025

For details and exceptions visit the NCVER Portal.

This document should be attributed as NCVER 2025, Total VET students and courses 2024, NCVER, Adelaide.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government, and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of NCVER and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or state and territory governments.

TD/TNC  160.06

Published by NCVER, ABN 87 007 967 311

Figure 1 Government-funded training accreditation and type of training.

Note: This publication does not present data on Fee-Free TAFE¹.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. For information on Fee-Free TAFE please see Fee-Free TAFE - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government.

2. Participation rates are derived by calculating the number of VET students with a usual residential address in an Australian state or territory, other Australian territories, or dependencies and where the state/territory is ‘Not known’ (excludes offshore population), as a percentage of the estimated Australian residential population in the corresponding age groups. Usual residential address refers to where the student usually resides rather than a temporary address a student relocates to go for training, work, or other purposes.

Sources: NCVER, National VET Provider 2024; Australian Bureau of Statistics, National, State and Territory population, (April) Quarterly Population Estimates by State/Territory, Sex and Age, Extracted April 2025.

3. Caution should be used when comparing trends, as 2024 NSW figures are likely overstated. For further details, see the explanatory notes (327.8 KB PDF).

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2025

For details and exceptions visit the NCVER Portal.

This document should be attributed as NCVER 2025, Government-funded students and courses 2024, NCVER, Adelaide.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government, and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of NCVER and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or state and territory governments.

Published by NCVER, ABN 87 007 967 311

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Unless stated otherwise, data are derived from the latest National Apprentice and Trainee Collection (no. 123, March 2025 estimates), using data up until 31 December 2024, which is compiled under the Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS) for Apprentice and Trainee Collection Specifications, Release 7.0, October 2015.
2. Due to the delay in time between an event (commencement, completion, etc.) occurring and the reporting of that event to NCVER, NCVER estimates the most recent figures. The estimation method involves weighting recently processed numbers based on average reporting lags. As estimates are revised for up to seven quarters, figures for the last two years may differ from those published in earlier or subsequent reports. The final counts are those submitted by jurisdictions. Further details on the methodology can be found in the Estimation of apprentice and trainee statistics technical paper.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia brought about significant uncertainty for individuals, businesses, and governments. The resulting suspension of normal economic activities, combined with various government and economic interventions, has impacted apprentice and trainee numbers. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting and comparing data from 2020 onwards.
4. In-training figures represent the number of apprenticeship and traineeship training contracts where the apprentice or trainee is actively training under the terms of their contract, and who have not completed, cancelled or withdrawn from their training, or had their training contract expired. The figure reflects the number of active contracts at a given point in time (at the end of the quarter), and therefore in-training figures cannot be cumulated over time. For this reason, quarterly comparisons are equivalent to 12-months ending comparisons, as they both represent the changes as at 31 December from one year to the next.
5. Note that the percentages presented in this product are reported to one decimal place. All other numbers, after aggregation, have been rounded to the nearest five. Rounding can lead to instances where the numbers in the body of a given table might not add to the rounded totals.
6. Unknown data have not been reported in any tables, whereas the total includes all contracts, including those with unknown status. Hence, some figures in the tables may not sum to the total.
7. Whilst the report is limited to data on contract commencements, in-training, completions and cancellations/withdrawals, data on contract recommencements, expiries and suspensions are available in VOCSTATS.
8. As the vocations approved to be under an apprenticeship or traineeship training contract are not consistent across all jurisdictions, NCVER has adopted a Trade/Non-trade categorisation for the purpose of the National Apprentices and Trainees Collection with 'Trades' classified as all occupations listed under ANZSCO major group '3-Technicians and Trades workers' and 'Non-trades' classified as all other major occupations groups 1-2 and 4-8 (Occupations are classified using the ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022 Australian Update).

This infographic is drawn from Australian vocational education and training statistics: apprentices and trainees 2024 — December quarter, NCVER, Adelaide.

SOURCE: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), National Apprentice and Trainee collection no. 123, March 2025 estimates, Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2025, February). Labour Force, Australia, Detailed. cat. no. 6291.0.55.001, see https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release.

The DataBuilder tool allows users to quickly create customised tables using the latest Apprentice and Trainee data, filter by a selection of variables and compare training activity over time. Users can view quarterly, year-to-date and rolling 12-month data for commencements, recommencements, completions, cancellations/withdrawals and in-training.

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2025

For details and exceptions visit the NCVER Portal.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government, and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of NCVER and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or state and territory governments.

ISSN  1440-0359

Published by NCVER, ABN 87 007 967 311

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Unless stated otherwise, data are derived from the latest National Apprentice and Trainee Collection (no. 122, December 2024 estimates), which is compiled under the Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS) for Apprentice and Trainee Collection Specifications, Release 7.0, October 2015.
2. Due to the delay in time between an event (commencement, completion, etc.) occurring and the reporting of that event to NCVER, NCVER estimates the most recent figures. The estimation method involves weighting recently processed numbers based on average reporting lags. As estimates are revised for up to seven quarters, figures for the last two years may differ from those published in earlier or subsequent reports. The final counts are those submitted by jurisdictions. Further details on the methodology can be found in the Estimation of apprentice and trainee statistics technical paper.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia brought about significant uncertainty for individuals, businesses, and governments. The resulting suspension of normal economic activities, combined with various government and economic interventions, has impacted apprentice and trainee numbers. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting and comparing data from 2020 onwards.
4. In-training figures represent the number of apprenticeship and traineeship training contracts where the apprentice or trainee is actively training under the terms of their contract, and who have not completed, cancelled or withdrawn from their training, or had their training contract expired. The figure reflects the number of active contracts at a given point in time (at the end of the quarter), and therefore in-training figures cannot be cumulated over time. For this reason, quarterly comparisons are equivalent to 12-months ending comparisons, as they both represent the changes as at 30 September from one year to the next.
5. Note that the percentages presented in this product are reported to one decimal place. All other numbers, after aggregation, have been rounded to the nearest five. Rounding can lead to instances where the numbers in the body of a given table might not add to the rounded totals.
6. Unknown data have not been reported in any tables, whereas the total includes all contracts, including those with unknown status. Hence, some figures in the tables may not sum to the total.
7. Whilst the report is limited to data on contract commencements, in-training, completions and cancellations/withdrawals, data on contract recommencements, expiries and suspensions are available in VOCSTATS.
8. As the vocations approved to be under an apprenticeship or traineeship training contract are not consistent across all jurisdictions, NCVER has adopted a Trade/Non-trade categorisation for the purpose of the National Apprentices and Trainees Collection with 'Trades' classified as all occupations listed under ANZSCO major group '3-Technicians and Trades workers' and 'Non-trades' classified as all other major occupations groups 1-2 and 4-8 (Occupations are classified using the ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022 Australian Update).

This infographic is drawn from Australian vocational education and training statistics: apprentices and trainees 2024 — September quarter, NCVER, Adelaide.

SOURCE: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), National Apprentice and Trainee collection no. 122, December 2024 estimates, Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2024, December). Labour Force, Australia, Detailed. cat. no. 6291.0.55.001, see https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release.

A 10-year timeseries of commencements, completions, cancellations and withdrawals, with choices for the user to select states/territories, contract statuses and trade status.

THIS PUBLICATION HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED.

For the most recent release please see the Apprentice and trainee outcomes collection page.

This publication provides a summary of data relating to students, programs, subjects, and training providers in Australia’s government-funded vocational education and training (VET) system. Government-funded is defined as Commonwealth and/or state or territory government-funded training delivered by contracted training organisations.

Data for the Government-funded students and courses series are received by NCVER in four cumulative submissions:

• January to March, submitted in May
• January to June, submitted in August
• January to September, submitted in November
• January to December, submitted in March.

This allows additional data to be reported and corrections made to previously submitted data.

The data in this publication cover the period of 1 January to 30 September 2024. For comparative purposes it examines data for the same period of the previous year.

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2025

For details and exceptions visit the NCVER Portal.

This document should be attributed as NCVER 2025, Government-funded students and courses - January to September 2024, NCVER, Adelaide.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government, and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of NCVER and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or state and territory governments.

TD/TNC  158.03

Published by NCVER, ABN 87 007 967 311

THIS PUBLICATION HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED.

For the most recent release please see the Apprentices and trainees collection page.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Unless stated otherwise, data are derived from the latest National Apprentice and Trainee Collection (no. 121, September 2024 estimates), which is compiled under the Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS) for Apprentice and Trainee Collection Specifications, Release 7.0, October 2015.
2. Due to the delay in time between an event (commencement, completion, etc.) occurring and the reporting of that event to NCVER, NCVER estimates the most recent figures. The estimation method involves weighting recently processed numbers based on average reporting lags. As estimates are revised for up to seven quarters, figures for the last two years may differ from those published in earlier or subsequent reports. The final counts are those submitted by jurisdictions. Further details on the methodology can be found in the Estimation of apprentice and trainee statistics technical paper.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia brought about significant uncertainty for individuals, businesses, and governments. The resulting suspension of normal economic activities, combined with various government and economic interventions, has impacted apprentice and trainee numbers. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting and comparing data from 2020 onwards.
4. In-training figures represent the number of apprenticeship and traineeship training contracts where the apprentice or trainee is actively training under the terms of their contract, and who have not completed, cancelled or withdrawn from their training, or had their training contract expired. The figure reflects the number of active contracts at a given point in time (at the end of the quarter), and therefore in-training figures cannot be cumulated over time. For this reason, quarterly comparisons are equivalent to 12-months ending comparisons, as they both represent the changes as at 30 June from one year to the next.
5. Note that the percentages presented in this product are reported to one decimal place. All other numbers, after aggregation, have been rounded to the nearest five. Rounding can lead to instances where the numbers in the body of a given table might not add to the rounded totals.
6. Unknown data have not been reported in any tables, whereas the total includes all contracts, including those with unknown status. Hence, some figures in the tables may not sum to the total.
7. Whilst the report is limited to data on contract commencements, in-training, completions and cancellations/withdrawals, data on contract recommencements, expiries and suspensions are available in VOCSTATS.
8. As the vocations approved to be under an apprenticeship or traineeship training contract are not consistent across all jurisdictions, NCVER has adopted a Trade/Non-trade categorisation for the purpose of the National Apprentices and Trainees Collection with 'Trades' classified as all occupations listed under ANZSCO major group '3-Technicians and Trades workers' and 'Non-trades' classified as all other major occupations groups 1-2 and 4-8 (Occupations are classified using the ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022 Australian Update).

This infographic is drawn from Australian vocational education and training statistics: apprentices and trainees 2024 — June quarter, NCVER, Adelaide.

SOURCE: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), National Apprentice and Trainee collection no. 121, September 2024 estimates, Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2024, September). Labour Force, Australia, Detailed. cat. no. 6291.0.55.001, see https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release.

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2024

For details and exceptions visit the NCVER Portal.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government, and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of NCVER and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or state and territory governments.

ISSN  1440-0359

Published by NCVER, ABN 87 007 967 311

A 10-year timeseries of commencements, completions, cancellations and withdrawals, with choices for the user to select states/territories, contract statuses and trade status.

THIS PUBLICATION HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED.

For the most recent release please see the VET student outcomes survey collection page.