NSW has recorded the highest number of apprentices and trainees in training of any state or territory in Australia with a 15 per cent increase in commencements in 2020 despite the COVID pandemic.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said recently released data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows NSW represents 30 per cent of the national total of commencements for apprenticeships and traineeships in 2020.
“The NCVER report shows NSW has the highest number of apprentices and trainees in training of any state or territory in Australia with an increase in commencements of 15 per cent compared to 10.6 per cent nationally during 2020,” Mr Lee said.
“This is a fantastic result, particularly considering the impacts of drought, bushfires and COVID-19 that have affected NSW in the last year.
“The Federal and NSW Government funded JobTrainer skills package and the Commonwealth Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements initiative, both announced in the second half of last year, are doing their job in bolstering apprenticeship and traineeship approvals in the last quarter of 2020 and into 2021.
“The impressive numbers are also a testament to NSW employers for keeping their young apprentices on board during COVID-19, and to our Training Providers for finding new and innovative ways to maintain training.”
The Apprentice Employment Network Executive Officer Jason Sultana said the increase in numbers was a reflection of just how important VET industries were to the State’s prosperity and economic recovery.
“Government initiatives to bolster apprenticeships has given employers the confidence to invest in the next generation of young workers,” Mr Sultana said.
“Investing in skilling tradespeople is also an investment in the State’s future and it’s great to see the Government backing our apprentices and training organisations.”
Key findings of the NCVER report include:
- Apprenticeship and traineeship commencement numbers show an increase of 15 per cent for NSW compared to 10.6 per cent nationally during 2020 with the NSW total of 50,345 representing 30 per cent of the national total.
- Apprentices and trainees currently in training in NSW in 2020 show an increase of 13.6 per cent compared to 2019.
- NSW has more than 93,880 apprentices and trainees in training, representing 32 per cent of Australia’s total of 297,920.