News & Views

7th February 2018

Apprenticeship numbers reinforce the need for reform

The National Centre for Vocational Education and Research’s release of the early trend estimates for September quarter apprentice and trainee commencements reinforce the critical need for the reform of the Vocational Education and Training sector, NECA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Suresh Manickam said today.

“These figures highlight the real lack of growth in the take up of trade apprentices over the past decade.  Based on NCVERs own data, the annual trade commencements in Australia are lower today than a year ago.”

“Whilst the September trend estimates show a slight increase in the commencement of trade apprentices when compared with the previous quarter in June. Further, the take up rate remains lower than the equivalent quarter, some four years ago,” Mr Manickam said.

In September, the second meeting of the Council of Australian Governments Industry and Skills Council agreed to the release of the Skills Action Plan to reform the role of Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), provide revised standards for training providers and regulators, a review of accredited courses and training packages and the streamlining of data reporting for training providers who have delivered quality outcomes in past years.

“Of concern to the electrical and communications sector is that we are fast approaching a point where large numbers of baby-boomers will be retiring and that sustainable skills replacement does not appear to be occurring across our sector. For the sake of the electrical contracting industry, these reforms must lead to an increase in trade apprentice take up and an increase in the number of skilled and job ready apprentices flowing through to the workforce, ” said Mr Manickam.

 

-ENDS-

 

Media enquiries and interviews

Barry Jackson – National Marketing and Communications

E barry.jackson@neca.asn.au

D 02 9962 6904

M 0457 767 328

 

Andrew Jefferies – National Policy and Submissions

E andrew.jefferies@neca.asn.au

D 02 9962 6903

M 0458 726 355

 

 

Notes for editors

  1. NECA is the peak industry body representing the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide.
  2. NECA is run by electrical contractors, for electrical contractors.
  3. We have 5,000 contracting companies as members – and they in turn employ over 50,000 people Australia-wide.
  4. NECA employs almost 350 people across its seven chapters (Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia).
  5. The chapters provide NECA members with a range of services including: Industrial Relations, Health & Safety, Legal, Technical,Training, business-support services, product discounts and advocacy representation in Canberra with Government, Industry bodies and Training bodies.
  6. NECA wholly-owns its Legal firm, Group Training and the NECA Colleges (in WA) and EcoSmart Electricians – and has joint ventures with a superannuation company (NSW) and one of the national cabling registrars (ACRS).
  7. NECA also employ around 2,000 apprentice electricians and provides training to a further 2,000.
  8. For further information go to www.neca.asn.au .

 

 

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