With the demand for skilled workers rising in 2021, a higher proportion of apprentices and trainees are being employed after completing their training. Employment outcomes have improved the most for those who trained in electrotechnology which includes refrigeration and air conditioning.

The latest statistics from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows 94.0% of apprentices and trainees who completed their training in a trade occupation were employed after training.

NCVER managing director Simon Walker says employment outcomes for apprentices and trainees significantly improved between 2019 and 2021: “The proportion of qualified apprentices and trainees employed with the same employer was up 12.3 percentage points from 2019.”

Out of the tradies that changed employers in 2021, 24.7% did so because they were offered a better job, compared with 14.5% in 2019 according to the research.

These figures may change in 2022 as the apprenticeship wage subsidy made available through the Commonwealth’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) incentive program ends on 31 March.

Employers considering a new apprentice need to undertake recruitment before the cut off date at the end of this month to be eligible for the 50% wage subsidy.