The number of apprentices in training dropped by almost nine percent in the most recent reporting.
The latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), released today, showed a decline in the total number of apprentices and trainees in-training at the end of March 2024, with differences emerging across trade and non-trade occupations.
NCVER Managing Director John King said the latest report showed there 351,695 in training at the end of the quarter, a decrease of 34,570 (8.9 percent), when compared with the same time in 2023.
Mr King said most of the decline occurred in non-trade occupations, which fell by 30,585 (21.3 percent) to 112,895.
He said over half of this decrease was in Clerical and Administrative Workers (down 16,610), particularly in occupations such as Office and Practice Managers (down 6365) and General Clerks (down 6055), across all industry sectors.
“Trade and non-trade occupations appear to be on different trajectories.”
Mr King said there was a relatively small decrease in trade occupations, with numbers down by 3945 (1.6 percent) to 238 765, when compared with the end of March 2023.
He said the largest declines were among Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians (down 2980) and Food Trades workers (down 2100), but these were partially offset by increases among Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers (up 3115) and Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers (up 2115).
“Trade in-training numbers have declined by 4.3 percent since their peak in June 2022 and are still nearly 30 percent higher than the pre-pandemic trend.
“In contrast, non-trades have decreased 36.9 percent since the June 2022 peak, falling back to around 20 percent above pre-pandemic levels.”
