Employers' use and views of the VET system 2011

Australian vocational education and training statistics:

• National Centre for Vocational Education Research

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04 November 2011Australian employers, particularly those employing 100 people or more, are reducing training for their staff, despite the majority considering it important, according to this survey.

The survey collects information about employers' use and views of the vocational education and training (VET) system and the various ways employers use the VET system to meet their skill needs. Information collected is designed to measure employers' engagement and satisfaction with the VET system. 

Highlights

53.9% of employers used the VET system in the last 12 months by:

• having jobs requiring vocational qualifications (34.5% of employers)
• having at least one apprentice or trainee (29.0% of employers)
• arranging or providing nationally recognised training for their employees (which was not part of an apprenticeship or traineeship) (21.7% of employers).

Employers’ satisfaction with the VET system as a way of meeting their skill needs is high, at:

• 84.8% for employers with jobs requiring vocational qualifications
• 82.7% for employers with apprentices and trainees
• 88.5% for employers using nationally recognised training (which was not part of an apprenticeship or traineeship).

Employers' use of training has decreased. Between 2009 and 2011:

• use of the VET system decreased 2.8 percentage points
• the proportion of employers with jobs requiring vocational qualifications was similar
• the proportion of employers with apprentices and trainees was similar
• use of nationally recognised training (which was not part of an apprenticeship or traineeship) decreased by 4.4 percentage points
• use of unaccredited training decreased by 6.2 percentage points to 46.5%.