The latest data release by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research highlights the excellent employment outcomes for people who complete an apprenticeship or traineeship.
The National Student Outcomes Survey is an annual survey of students who completed their vocational education and training in Australia during the previous calendar year. The latest data, released on 28 February 2022, shows that 94 per cent of those who completed an apprenticeship (trade) in 2020 were employed after training. For those who completed a traineeship (non-trade), the figure was 88.4 per cent. Both figures were up substantially on those from the previous year; trades up by 2.5 per cent and non-trades up by 3.5per cent.
For those who completed a trade, 75.7 per cent were employed in the same occupational group after they completed their apprenticeship. 22.7 per cent were actively looking for another job, and of these, 45.2 per cent were looking for work because they felt their pay was too low. This compares to 30.2 per cent who gave the same reason last time, and may reflect increased wage expectations from those aware of the big rises in skills shortages across the economy over the last 12 months.
Main reason for looking for work, of those trade completers employed and looking for work after training, 2019 and 2021 (%)
31.1 per cent of trade completers employed at the end of May 2021 were employed with a different employer to their apprenticeship, down 12.3 percentage points from 2019. Of these, 24.7 per cent changed employers because they were offered a better job and 8.9 per cent because their pay was too low.
For those who completed a traineeship (i.e.: non-trade), 44.1 per cent were employed in the same occupational group after they completed. Of those actively looking for work, 24.4 per cent were looking for work because the pay was too low and 18.8 per cent for a change or to try for a different career.
The traineeship figures look disappointing compared to the trade figures, however the overall employment outcome of 88.4 per cent is still excellent. It reflects the value of gaining experience in employment for helping graduates find their next job. The short nature of traineeships compared to apprenticeships (generally one year as opposed to four) can mean that trainees can be more likely to see the program through to completion even though they have decided their next job might lie elsewhere.
