Apprenticeships and traineeships are central components of the vocational education and training system. They provide the opportunity to train and study toward a nationally recognised qualification, combining on- and off-the-job training to enable individuals to develop their skills while participating in the workforce and earning an income.
Apprenticeships typically take around 4 years to complete, and involve training towards a skilled trade (for example, carpentry, electrical, plumbing or automotive) or non-trade (for example, hospitality or child care).
Traineeships are normally shorter in duration (1 to 2 years) and involve training in a vocational area such as marketing, administration or events management.
Apprenticeships and traineeships can be full time, part time or school based. School-based apprenticeships and traineeships are available for secondary school students who get on-the-job training towards a formal qualification while still completing their school studies (NCVER 2018).
The impact of COVID-19
The vocational education and training sector has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In an effort to reduce the spread of the virus, initiatives such as international travel restrictions and border control measures, non-essential service shutdown, social distancing and remote and home-based learning have been implemented.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the delivery of teaching and training to apprentices and trainees. Face-to-face classes have been heavily restricted and moved to online methods and for those students undertaking work placements in the health, aged care and early childhood sectors, the impact has been even more profound. Some impacts on employment outcomes for people who completed vocational education and training studies have also been experienced (see Outcomes).
The Australian Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan includes measures to support new apprenticeships, including the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy. Over the period between 5 October 2020 to 31 March 2022, the subsidy provides up to $7,000 per quarter to cover 50% of wages for commencing or recommencing apprentices (DESE 2021).
Other concerns relating to the impact of COVID-19 are related to how the challenges of remote learning may affect the educational outcomes of vulnerable students. The impact of the pandemic, including recent outbreaks in Australia in 2021, is yet to be completely understood. It will likely be a topic for researchers and the education sector itself for some time to come.
1 in 9 trade workers are apprentices or trainees
As at 30 June 2020, 1 in 9 (11%) workers in trade occupations were apprentices or trainees and 1 in 45 workers (2.2%) in all occupations were employed as an apprentice or trainee (NCVER 2020a).
As at 30 June 2020, 266,565 apprentices and trainees were training in Australia, down 3.9% from June 2019 (NCVER 2020a).
During 2019–20, there were 133,500 commencements of apprentices and trainees. Of those apprentices and trainees who commenced in 2019–20:
- 35% were female and 65% were male (the same as in 2016–17)
- around 1 in 14 (7.1%) were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (up from 6.2% in 2016–17) (see Indigenous education and skills)
- 48% were training for a trade (up from 44% in 2016–17), and 52% for a non-trade (down from 56% in 2016–17)
- around 1 in 29 (3.4%) had disability (up from 3.0% in 2016–17)
- 74% were undertaking full-time study (up from 72% in 2016–17), and 26% were undertaking part-time study (down from 28% in 2016–17)
- around 1 in 9 (11%) were school-based (the same as in 2016–17) (NCVER 2020b).
The number of people undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships was lower in 2019–20 than in 2007–08 (Figure 1).
The number of commencements and completions began to increase in 2009–10, alongside the Apprentice Kickstart initiative to address skills shortages in Australia, with a peak around 2012 (NCVER 2020c). This was followed by a sharp decline from 2012–13. The decline was steeper for non-trades than trades, and reflected:
- changes to Australian Government incentive payments for qualifications not on the National Skills Needs List (Atkinson & Stanwick 2016), including the discontinuation of a $1,500 standard employer commencement payment (Gilfillan 2016)
- a decline in demand for labour in industries such as mining and utilities (Gilfillan 2016).
The decline disproportionately affected women and older apprentices and trainees. Between June 2012 and December 2015, the number of female apprentices and trainees declined by 59%, compared to a decline of 38% for males. Over the same period, the number of apprentices and trainees aged 45 years and over declined by 71%, compared to a decline of 26% and 39% for people aged 20–24 and 19 and under, respectively (Gilfillan 2016).
Trends of apprentice and trainee commencements and completions show that in the 12 months ending 30 June 2020:
- there were 133,500 commencements, a decline from the peak of 377,000 in 2011–12, and at their lowest since 1996–97
- completions (84,000) declined sharply since the peak of 214,600 in 2012–13 and were at their lowest since 1998–99
- the number of cancellations and withdrawals (77,800) were also at their lowest since 1998–99 (NCVER 2020c).