Post-school qualifications, apprenticeships and traineeships
Why are rates of study for qualifications important?
Increasingly, young people are continuing their studies beyond compulsory schooling. Post-school qualifications (also known as non-school qualifications) are an important predictor of an individual’s capacity to compete in demanding labour markets (OECD 2014). Post-school qualifications can be obtained through higher education institutions or vocational education and training institutions.
For young people in particular, apprenticeships and traineeships are an alternative pathway into the labour market, providing an opportunity to acquire essential skills while also participating in the labour force. The combination of on-job and off-job training and employment generally lasts 3 to 4 years for apprenticeships and 1 to 2 years for traineeships.
Post-school qualifications
In 2014, 35% of 15–24 year olds were enrolled in study towards a post-school qualification. The proportion was higher among 20-24 year olds (42%) than 15-19 year olds (27%) reflecting the high proportion of 15-19 year olds still studying towards school qualifications (see also Notes below). Across the 15-24 year old age group, participation was slightly higher for females (37%) than males (33%).
Of the 15-24 year olds enrolled in study towards a post-school qualification, more than half were studying towards a Bachelor degree or higher (63%), and around one-fifth (20%) towards a Certificate III or IV. Around 11% were studying towards a Diploma or Advanced Diploma. The pattern was similar across the two age groups 15-19 and 20-24, and for males and females (AIHW 2015).
The most popular fields of study among 15-24 year olds for post-school qualifications were management and commerce (21%), society and culture (17%) and engineering and related technologies (13%).
From 2005 to 2014, there has been an increase in the proportion of all young people (aged 15–24) undertaking post-school qualifications (32% to 35%). Over this period, there have been similar trends among males and females (males (31% to 33%) and females (33% to 37%) and among 15–19 year olds (25% to 27%) and 20–24 year olds (38% to 42%).
Apprenticeships or traineeships
In 2013, 7.1% of all young people were undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships. Similar proportions of 15–19 year olds (7.4%) and 20–24 year olds (6.8%) were apprentices/trainees.
The trends in the proportion of young people aged 15–24 undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships have been more variable over this period. From 2004 to 2007, the proportion of young people who were apprentices/trainees increased slightly from 8.3% to 8.7%. This proportion has since declined to 7.1% in 2013. There are similar trends evident for the different young age groups over this period. From 2004 to 2007 the proportion of 15–19 year olds who were undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships increased from 9.1% to 9.7%, whereas the proportion of 20–24 year olds was relatively steady at around 7.5%. These proportions have since decreased to 7.4% of 15–19 year olds and 6.8% of 20–24 year olds in 2013.
This report is based on survey data; relative standard errors and 95% confidence intervals are provided in the Source data tables: NYIF indicators. Significance testing was undertaken on values cited in the text; unless otherwise stated, differences were found to be statistically significant.
For the purpose of the ABS Survey of Education and Work a ‘non-school qualification’ (referred to as post-school qualifications here) is awarded for educational attainments other than those of pre-primary, primary or secondary education. They include qualifications at the Postgraduate Degree level, Master Degree level, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate level, Bachelor Degree level, Advanced Diploma and Diploma level, and Certificates I, II, III and IV levels. Non-school qualifications may be attained concurrently with school qualifications (ABS 2014).
Future updates of this data portal will report on young people aged 18-24 year olds in recognition of the high proportion of 15-17 year olds still studying towards school qualifications.
Apprentice and trainee data are annual averages of quarterly figures. Population data used as the denominator are the ABS estimated resident population at 30 June of the respective year.
ABS Survey of Education and Work 2004 to 2014
AIHW analysis of the NCVER National Apprentices and Trainees Collection via VOCSTATS (extracted 14 April 2015). Data originally collected by registered training organisations and state training authorities around Australia.
Data quality statement: Please refer to the published sources (above) for further information.
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2014. Education and Work, Australia. Glossary. ABS cat. no. 6227.0. Canberra: ABS. Viewed on 24 July 2015
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 2015. Australia’s Welfare 2015. Canberra: AIHW.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) 2014. Education at a glance 2014: OECD indicators. Paris: OECD.