The number of people starting apprenticeships and traineeships has increased for the first time in over a year.
According to figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education (NCVER), trade commencement has increased to 21,500 in the September quarter from 20,900 in the June quarter. Non-trade commencement has also increased to 28,800 in the September quarter from 27,400 in the June quarter.
The release of the figures detail the amount of commencement of apprenticeships and traineeships over the last ten years. The release of the figures also come as Minister for Industry, Ian Mcfarlane signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean minister for Employment and Labor, Lee Ki-Kweon, to enable international co-operation between Australia and South Korea in technical vocational education and training (TVET).
According to Climate Control News, Minister Mcfarlane stated that the figures are proof that the federal government’s vocational and training reforms are working. Minister Mcfarlane also stated that the Trade Support Loans Program is popular among apprentices.
The federal government will also be investing $220 million per year from next year onwards into a new apprenticeship support network with the aim of increasing apprenticeship completion rates.
These figures are early figures displaying commencement of apprenticeships and traineeships at a national level, more detailed commencement figures of the September 2014 quarter will be released in March 2015.