Research released this week by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2014) has found the number of completions for both trade and non-trade apprentices and trainees across Australia has decreased.
According to the data, the overall completion rate has declined from 53.5 per cent to 52.4 per cent.
VERTO Chief Executive Officer, Ron Maxwell, said the findings were in line with trends VERTO has seen across its service area (New South Wales) as an Apprenticeship Network Provider.
“The completion rate for apprentices and trainees has declined recently, and this independent data confirms our own observations,” Mr. Maxwell said.
“Traditionally around a third of all apprentices and trainees leave their formal training within the first 12 months.
“There are a number of reasons why apprentices and trainees don’t complete their formal training including not liking the work, illness or injury, issues with colleagues in the workplace or in some cases, the pay and conditions.
“The new Australian Apprenticeship Support Network aims to boost the overall completion rate by matching apprentices and trainees with both the right career path and employer upfront, and by also providing personalised mentoring support for those who are at risk of not completing their apprenticeship or traineeship.
“We look forward to working with apprentices, trainees and employers right across New South Wales over the next three years to improve completion rates and to meet the skill needs of local industries,” Mr. Maxwell said.
