Transition to employment
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Improving the transition of young people with disability from education to employment requires preparing them for employment. This includes supporting them to access skills development and work experience which can have long-term benefits for their employment prospects and careers (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).
VET graduate employment
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is post-compulsory education and training that provides people with occupational or work-related knowledge and skills. It includes programs that provide the basis for subsequent vocational programs (SCRGSP 2023). VET courses and qualifications are:
- Certificate I, II, III, IV
- Diploma, Advanced Diploma
- Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma (ASQA 2021).
Data for this measure are from National Centre for Vocational Education Research’s (NCVER) National Student Outcomes Survey. The annual survey includes students who completed nationally recognised VET delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs) in Australia. The 2022 survey collected data between June and August 2022 from students who completed their qualifications in 2021.
The desired key system outcome for this measure is that VET graduates with disability transition into employment on completing their training.
System measure: Proportion of VET graduates with disability who are employed on completion of training
Desired outcome: Increase in the proportion
Data source: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
Latest results: 2022
- In 2022, 59% of domestic VET graduates with disability aged 15 and over were employed upon completion of training. This was 7 percentage points higher than at baseline (2021) (52%), indicating a favourable change (Figure 2.5).
- The result for 2022 (59%) was the highest result achieved across the period 2016 to 2022. It was 3 percentage points higher than the previous highest result of 56% in 2016.
Things to consider when interpreting results
- For the purposes of this measure, VET graduates refer to ‘qualification completers’ – that is, students who completed a training package qualification or an accredited qualification. ‘Employed on completion of training’ refers to ‘employed after training’. Data are restricted to domestic students.
- This measure does not take into account whether students were employed before training and/or whether they are employed in the same occupation as the training course. The measure also does not capture students who went on to undertake further vocational training.
Latest results: 59.3% (2022)
Baseline: 51.6% (2021)
Progress status (preliminary): Progress
Figure 2.5: Proportion of VET graduates with disability aged 15 and over who are employed on completion of training, 2016 to 2022
The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of VET graduates (aged 15 and over) with disability who are employed on completion of training. Data from 2016 to 2022 are used. In 2022, 59% of VET graduates with disability were employed on completion of training, compared with 56% in 2016.
Year | Proportion (%) | 95% Confidence Interval |
---|---|---|
2016 | 56% | (53.2%-58.8%) |
2017 | 54% | (52.7%-54.7%) |
2018 | 54% | (52.7%-54.3%) |
2019 | 53% | (51.8%-53.4%) |
2020 | 45% | (44.7%-46.1%) |
2021 | 52% | (50.9%-52.3%) |
2022 | 59% | (58.5%–60.1%) |
Notes:
- Data includes domestic students only aged 15 and over.
- 'VET graduates' refers to qualification completers, that is students who completed a training package qualification or an accredited qualification.
- 'Employed on completion of training' refers to employed after training.
- 'VET graduates with disability' refers to those who self-identify as having a disability, impairment or long-term condition.
- Excludes students who undertook recreational, leisure or personal enrichment (short) courses.
- Excludes students from correctional facilities.
Source: NCVER 2022, Australian vocational education and training statistics: VET student outcomes 2022 – customised data request.
Source:
National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
|
Data source overview
For figure notes, see Appendix C: Figure notes and sources.
For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | VET graduate employment.
Young NDIS participant employment
Successful engagement of young people in the labour market and society is crucial for not only their own personal economic prospects and wellbeing but also for overall economic growth and social cohesion (OECD 2022).
This measure focuses on young NDIS participants aged 15–24. Data are collected from the NDIS Short Form questionnaire and refer to participants aged 15–24 who answered:
- ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Are you currently working in a paid job?’
The desired key system outcome for this measure is that the NDIS supports young people leaving school to prepare for employment.
System measure: Proportion of NDIS young people (aged 15–24) in employment
Desired outcome: Increase in the proportion
Data source: NDIA Business System
Latest results: 2022–23 Q4
- In 2022–23 Q4, just under 1 in 5 (19%) of NDIS young participants (aged 15-24) were in employment. This was around 1 percentage point higher than at baseline (2021–22 Q2) (18%), indicating progress since the Strategy began (Figure 2.6).
- Since baseline, consistent quarter-to-quarter increases have been observed, with a modelled quarterly increase of 0.3 of a percentage point over the period (2021–22 Q2 to 2022–23 Q4). The result for 2022–23 Q4 was also the highest across the historical and post-baseline data.
Things to consider when interpreting results
- Time series analysis for the NDIS data presented here is different from the longitudinal approach taken in NDIS reporting. See Data sources | National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) for more details.
Latest results: 19.1% (2022–23 Q4)
Baseline: 17.6% (2021–22 Q2)
Progress status: Progress
Figure 2.6: Proportion of NDIS young people aged 15–24 in employment, 2018–19 Q2 to 2022–23 Q4
The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of NDIS young people (aged 15–24) in employment. Data from 2018–19 Q2 to 2022–23 Q4 are used. In 2022–23 Q4, 19% of young NDIS participants were employed, compared with 17% in 2018–19 Q2.
Quarter | Proportion (%) |
---|---|
2018–19: Q2 | 17% |
2018–19: Q3 | 17% |
2018–19: Q4 | 17% |
2019–20: Q1 | 18% |
2019–20: Q2 | 18% |
2019–20: Q3 | 18% |
2019–20: Q4 | 18% |
2020–21: Q1 | 17% |
2020–21: Q2 | 17% |
2020–21: Q3 | 17% |
2020–21: Q4 | 17% |
2021–22: Q1 | 17% |
2021–22: Q2 | 18% |
2021–22: Q3 | 18% |
2021–22: Q4 | 18% |
2022–23: Q1 | 18% |
2022–23: Q2 | 19% |
2022–23: Q3 | 19% |
2022–23: Q4 | 19% |
Notes:
- Denominator excludes participants who do not answer the question "Are you currently working in a paid job?".
- Numerator includes participants who answer "Yes" to "Are you currently working in a paid job?".
- Eligibility requirements for the NDIS include that the disability is caused by an impairment, is likely to be permanent, the permanent impairment substantially reduces the individual's functional capacity, affects their ability to work, study or take part in social life, and that the individual is likely to need support under the NDIS for their whole life.
- Data are for participants aged 15-24.
Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Business System.
Source:
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – Business Systems
|
Data source overview
For figure notes, see Appendix C: Figure notes and sources.
For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Young NDIS participant employment.
Young people in employment
The desired key population outcome for this measure is to see an increase in young people with disability moving from education to employment.
Population measure: Proportion of young people (aged 15–24) with disability in the labour force who are employed
Desired outcome: Increase in the proportion
Data source: ABS SDAC
This measure will be replaced in the future when available data are improved. During the life of the Strategy, this measure will be replaced by ‘Proportion of school leavers with disability who are not in employment, education or training 12 months later’.
For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Young people in employment.
ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority) (2021) ‘Standard 10.5 – Australian Qualifications Framework levels‘, Users’ guide to Standards for VET Accredited Courses, ASQA website, accessed 11 September 2023.
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 (2021), Department of Social Services, Australian Government, accessed 11 September 2023.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) (2022) Youth employment and social policies, OECD website, accessed 11 September 2023.
SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision) (2023) Report on Government Services: 5 Vocational education and training: Key terms and references, Productivity Commission, Australian Government, accessed 11 September 2023.