Using interviews with adult migrants over a period of two years, the authors look at how undertaking an English as a second language (ESL) class helps to facilitate integration into Australian society. Overall, not being competent and confident in speaking English was seen by all (migrants and ESL teachers) as the biggest barrier to integration...

This report investigates attrition in the trades by comparing the rate at which tradespeople leave their occupation with that of professionals. It also determines whether attrition is influenced by economic conditions, and if a trade can provide a good start to a career in the professions. . Skill shortages in the trades are of growing...

Australian 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...

One of the significant challenges facing Australia is the ageing of the population. This challenge has led policy-makers to consider how older workers can be kept in the workforce. To help generate discussion on older workers, NCVER commissioned six researchers to draft essays on various issues around keeping older Australians engaged with the workforce. These...

This final report is from a three-year research program that examined the dynamics of workforce development and explored the challenges in maintaining viable labour flows in the child care and meat processing industries. The paper highlights the lack of receptiveness for workers in the meat processing and childcare sectors to train beyond mandatory levels due...