Apprentice alarm bells

By Lucy Hood

The number of South Australians starting apprenticeships and traineeships dropped to its lowest level in seven years, new figures show.

Experts have blamed the global financial crisis for the decline, in which 1800 fewer South Australians commenced an apprenticeship or traineeship last year compared to 2008. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research Apprentice and Trainees Annual 2009 report found only 20,200 South Australians commenced training last year, compared to 22,000 in 2008.

Nationally, there were 17,300 fewer commencements with trade apprenticeships hardest hit, dropping 17 per cent.

Despite the decline, the state has the best rate in the nation for apprenticeships and trainees remaining in their training contracts.

National Centre for Vocational Education Research managing director Dr Tom Karmel said that it was a year of mixed results for apprenticeships and traineeships.

“Because the trades are closely linked to the economic cycle, the number of new trade apprentices dropped substantially,” he said.

“The good news for employers is that, if circumstances remain stable, a higher proportion of apprentices and trainees will go on to successfully complete their training.” SA has the lowest attrition rates of all the states at 26.2 per cent, or 5.3 per percentage points below the national average of 31.5 per cent.

Employment, Training and Further Education Minister Jack Snelling said SA’s attrition rates for apprentices and trainees in trade occupations was even lower at 25.8 per cent – 6.4 percentage points below the national average.

“The NCVER report also shows there was an estimated 30,600 apprentices and trainees in-training in SA in the year ending December 31, 2009,” he said.

Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology Department chief executive Raymond Garrand said: “Initial data for 2010 is suggesting that commencements over the year ahead are trending towards an improvement”.

Article from The Advertiser, July, 2010