The National Centre for Vocational Education research has released its data for VET in Schools enrolments for 2022. The data shows an overall decline in enrolment numbers of 3.3% compared to 2021. The total number of VET in School students across Australia was 242,945, with Queensland as usual having by far the highest number of enrolments.
Number of VET in Schools students by state or territory 2021 to 2022
Source: NCVER 2023, VET in Schools 2022
One aspect of the data noted by NCVER Managing Director Simon Walker in their media release is that “although Certificate II programs continue to have the highest uptake, we have seen a significant increase in Certificate III enrolments over the past decade, up 69.7% from 68 250 in 2012 to 115 800 in 2022. Further, we have observed a 74.1% decrease in Certificate I enrolments over the same period.”
An examination of the areas where Certificate III enrolments has risen shows that they are mainly in the Management and Commerce and the Society and Culture fields. The Health field is also rising every year but with much lower numbers. Enrolments in the Certificate III in Business have risen from 8,450 in 2018 to 14,340 in 2022, a rise of almost 70% over five years. Other qualifications that have risen substantially are the Certificate III in Fitness, rising 45.8% over five years to 10,805. In the health sector, enrolments in the Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance and the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance have risen by 61.5% and 63.9% respectively over five years.
An interesting increase in Certificate III enrolments has been in the Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot), which has had enrolments risen by almost 360% from 350 in 2018 to 1,600 in 2022. This qualification relates to operating remotely piloted aircraft systems, or drones, and aligns to CASA’s Remote Pilot Licensing requirements.
Most VET in Schools enrolments remain at the Certificate II level, which is where most pre-apprenticeship programs are pitched. Enrolment numbers are fairly stable, although some programs have seen increases. Some common Certificate II qualifications:
|
|
2018 |
2022 |
rise/fall |
|
Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation |
3,733 |
4,940 |
↑32.3% |
|
Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) |
2,825 |
4,145 |
↑46.7% |
|
Certificate II in Furniture Making Pathways |
1,625 |
1,865 |
↑14.8% |
|
Certificate II in Engineering Pathways |
4,545 |
7,080 |
↑55.8% |
|
Certificate II in Engineering Studies (Victorian) |
1,440 |
1,375 |
↓4.5% |
School-based apprenticeship and traineeship commencement numbers have been relatively constant over the past five years, rising from 18,040 in 2018 to 20,765 in 2022.
NCVER VET in Schools data can be accessed here.
Peter contributes to education and training policy and manages Centre projects including state industry skills advisory projects and apprenticeship and traineeship projects that often explore new models. Peter has many years' experience in the vocational training sector, and has managed projects for the Victorian Government relating to education and training.
