South Australia leading the nation on apprentice, trainee numbers before COVID-19 hit
New figures show a long-term bid to arrest declining apprentice numbers was working before the coronavirus hit. But what does it mean after the coronavirus?
SA News
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Mature age apprentice and trainee numbers in South Australia surged in the months before the coronavirus, new figures show.
National apprentice and trainee data released today shows SA experienced a 114 per cent increase in commencements for mature-age apprentices and trainees for the quarter ending December 2019.
Apprentices and trainees aged 45 and over rose from 310 in December 2018 to 670 in 2019.
The figures, combined with other positive improvements in enrolment rates, have given the State Government confidence that the apprentice and trainee sector can play a key role in the state’s economic recovery.
Skills Minister David Pisoni told The Advertiser the growth in mature-age students demonstrated a transition to new roles and sectors as older workers upskill or retrain.
“In our transitioning economy, more South Australians are accessing paid training opportunities to gain the skills required to work in new jobs,” Mr Pisoni said.
“We are also seeing existing workers upskilling through paid training including apprenticeships and traineeships.”
Mr Pisoni said the growth in mature age students aged 45 and over showed it was never too old to re-skill.
“The State Government is ensuring that people of all ages have access to training and skills development to support lifelong learning and fulfilling careers,” he said.
“Ensuring our workforce is skilled and equipped to work in jobs that are in demand will support a faster economic recovery.”
Figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NVER), released today, show SA showed a 13.8 per cent increase in paid training commencements for the year ending 31 December 2019, compared to a year earlier.
It is the largest percentage increase in the country.
The figures show there were 9080 commencements in South Australia.
But the figures are dominated by non-trade roles, 5248 commencements.
However there were 3840 trade commencements – a 1.1 per cent decrease from the year before.
South Australia recorded 22 per cent growth in commencement of female apprenticeships and traineeships.
There was also a 90.8 per cent increase in apprentice and trainee commencements who are existing workers.
But completions were down by 2.3 per cent - from 4680 to 4570 - during the same period.
Mr Pisoni said that growth showed the State Government’s Skilling South Australia program – aimed at allowing people to upskill for their existing roles or retrain for roles in other growing sectors of our economy – was working.
“These figures translate into jobs and lasting careers in new and expanding industries for South Australians, while meeting the needs of industry as our economy continues to transition to the high growth sectors of defence, space, advanced manufacturing, hi-tech, and the health and medical industries – highlighted by a 407 per cent increase in commencements for higher level qualifications at Diploma or Advanced Diploma level,” he said.