Apprentices and trainees more likely to get job than bachelor degree graduates

APPRENTICESHIPS and traineeships reportedly make Australians more employable than bachelor degrees, with higher rates of job success.

APPRENTICESHIPS and traineeships make Australians more employable than bachelor degrees, with higher rates of job success backing up the key message of National Skills Week.

The Employment Department’s Australian Jobs 2016 report reveals 74.2 per cent of vocational education and training (VET) graduates found employment (full time or part-time) within six months of completing their qualification last year.

By comparison, 67.4 per cent of bachelor degree graduates found employment within four months.

“Employers are looking for people with work experience,” Brian Wexham, chief executive of National Skills Week creator SkillsOne, said.

“When you do an apprenticeship or traineeship, much of it is done in the actual workplace so (workers) come out job ready ... they can immediately start making a contribution.”

There were also more available jobs in vocational industries — for example, hospitality and tourism.

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He said the purpose of National Skills Week, which begins today, was to highlight vocational opportunities, showcase their diversity, and talk to people who have had successful careers or started their own business.

According to the Employment Department report, VET outcomes were notably stronger than bachelor degree outcomes in education (85.6 per cent versus 83.9 per cent), architecture and building (85.1 per cent versus 69.1 per cent), engineering and related technologies (82.6 per cent versus 71.7 per cent), and agriculture, environmental and related studies (80.6 per cent versus 63.2 per cent).

Avionics aircraft maintenance engineer Rachel Bacon, 29, began studying a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering at university before deferring to enrol in a Certificate IV and Diploma in Aeroskills Avionics.

She said it was one of the best decisions she ever made.

“A vocational course is tied in with industry, the knowledge is relevant and you apply it straight away,” the Australian Training Awards 2014 Vocational Student of the Year said.

“You come out with a qualification and three or four years’ experience under your belt.

“I pretty much walked out of the classroom and straight into a job.”

For VET graduates, the average fulltime salary was $57,100, National Centre for Vocational Education Research revealed.

Those likely to earn the most studied education ($73,200), engineering and related technologies ($61,700), natural and physical sciences ($59,200), health ($58,000), and management and commerce ($57,100).

Wexham said vocational education was also less expensive than a bachelor degree.

“People criticise what an apprentice gets paid but the fact is they are getting paid and often they’ve got a mentor as well. That’s quite different to what happens in universities,” he said.

“They also often start earlier and therefore are able to progress up the salary scale quicker than perhaps a graduate that is probably having trouble finding a job let alone a job that pays well.”

National Skills Week runs until September 4.

Visit nationalskillsweek.com.au

Do you have a job for a first-time job seeker? Email [e-mail] and join our campaign.

Originally published as Apprentices and trainees more likely to get job than bachelor degree graduates