Apprentice and trainee commencements continue to climb

Apprentice and trainee commencements have continued their climb from Covid-affected lows and are now running at their highest level in eight years.

The latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows apprentice and trainee commencements grew nationally to 47,785 or 114 per cent in the June quarter 2021 compared with the same quarter in 2020.

The rise in the June quarter continues the trend from the previous two quarters in which commencements increased by 40 per cent from the March quarter 2020 to 2021 and by 150 per cent from the December quarter 2019 to 2020.

The Managing director of NCVER Simon Walker said: “Annual apprentice and trainee commencements are at their highest level since the year ending June 2014.

“Numbers increased in all states and territories and across nearly all industry sectors.”

The increase in the June quarter was reported across nearly all industry sectors, with the largest absolute increases occurring in construction which was up 5,275 or 96 per cent, administrative and support services which was up 4,300 or 294 per cent and accommodation which was up 2,995 or 110.4 per cent.

Commencements in trade group occupations increased to 20,905, up 115.5 per cent and to 26,875, up 112.9 per cent in non-trade group occupations compared with June quarter 2020.

As at 30 June 2021, there were 341,385 apprentices and trainees in-training, an increase of 73,665 compared with 30 June 2020.

Compared with the June quarter 2020, completions were up 21.2 per cent to 17,795.

Copies of Apprentices and Trainees 2021: June quarter – Australia are available here.

Image: NCVER

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