NCVER | 15 May 2014
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The number of trade apprentices starting training in the March quarter 2014 remains consistent with the past four intakes for the same period but commencements in non-trade apprenticeships continue to decline.
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Released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Apprentices and trainees 2014—early trend estimates, March quarter, provides seasonally adjusted and smoothed data at the national level for trade and non-trade apprentice commencements.
Estimates show 24 400 people started a trade apprenticeship in the March 2014 quarter, down 1600 commencements from the December 2013 quarter. However the number of commencements is consistent, with an average of 24 000 trade apprentices starting per quarter since March 2010.
Commencements in non-trade apprenticeships continue to decline, down from 35 200 in the December 2013 quarter to 32 200 in the March 2014 quarter. This marks three consecutive quarters of declining non-trade apprenticeship commencements.
NCVER says it is watching commencements of non-trade apprenticeships closely to see if a new pattern is emerging.
