This data includes the numbers, industries and demographics of Australia’s small business apprentices and trainees and illustrates the diversity of this part of the small business workforce. Please note that the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) defines small businesses as those with less than 20 employees for this data.
- Small businesses employed 42% of all apprentices and trainees in-training as at 30 September 2022.
- Nearly half (49%) of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small businesses are in the construction industry.
- Over two thirds of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small businesses were aged 24 and under in September 2022.
- The number of apprentices and trainees in-training aged 45 years and over employed by small businesses grew 51% in the year to September 2022.
- The number of apprentices and trainees employed by small businesses who completed their training increased by 45% in September 2022 from the year prior.
- The number of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small businesses increased by 12% in the year to September 2022.
Number of small business apprentices and trainees
Small businesses employed 167,328 apprentices and trainees in-training on 30 September 2022. This was a 12% increase compared to the same time the previous year, and a 6% decrease compared to June quarter 2022.[1]
Table 1: Apprentices and trainees in-training by employer size, September 2022
|
Size of business |
Number of apprentices and trainees in-training |
% of apprentices and trainees in-training |
|
Small (Less than 20 employees) |
167,328 |
42% |
|
Medium (20 – 199 employees) |
110,421 |
27% |
|
Large (200 or more employees) |
98,018 |
24% |
|
Government and unknown |
26,479 |
7% |
|
Total |
402,246 |
100% |
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023.
The number of apprentices and trainees in-training has remained relatively high since the December quarter 2020. The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidies supported businesses and Group Training Organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees during the economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. To be eligible, apprentices needed a commencement date between 5 October and 30 June 2022. From 30 June 2022, the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements Program closed to new entrants[2].
Small businesses accounted for 42% of all apprentices and trainees in-training as at 30 September 2022. This proportion is significantly higher than medium or large businesses, accounting for 27% and 24% respectively.
Chart 1: Apprentices and trainees in-training by employer size
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023.
[1] ASBFEO has sourced data from NCEVER’s VOCSTATS. We note that NCVER states that it is not responsible for the correct extraction, analysis or interpretation of the data obtained from VOCSTATS.
[2] Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, 2022, https://www.dewr.gov.au/boosting-apprenticeship-commencements Accessed 16 January 2023
Table 2: Apprentices and trainees in-training by employer size, September 2022
|
Size of business |
Number of apprentices and trainees commenced in Sept 2022 |
% annual change in number of apprentices and trainees |
Number of apprentices and trainees in-training in Sept 2022 |
% annual change in number of apprentices and trainees in-training |
|
Small (Less than 20 employees) |
8,864 |
-49% |
167,328 |
12% |
|
Medium (20 – 199 employees) |
7,599 |
-48% |
110,421 |
16% |
|
Large (200 or more employees) |
11,285 |
-20% |
98,018 |
16% |
|
Government and unknown |
1,670 |
-56% |
26,479 |
11% |
|
Total |
29,418 |
-41% |
402,246 |
14% |
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023.
There were 8,864 new training contracts for apprentices and trainees employed by small businesses in September 2022. This was a 49% fall compared to September 2021. From 30 June 2022, the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements Program closed to new entrants.
Industry of small business apprentices and trainees
The industries with the highest proportion of small business’ apprentices and trainees in-training in September 2022 were:
- Construction (49%), mainly in electrical, carpentry and plumbing services.
- Other services (14%), mainly in hairdressing and beauty services and automotive repair and maintenance.
- Manufacturing (7%), in areas such as structural steel fabricating, fabricated metal product manufacturing and bakery product manufacturing (non-factory based).
Table 2: Apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small business, September 2022
|
Industry |
Number of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small business |
% of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small business |
|
Construction |
81,468 |
49% |
|
Other Services |
23,197 |
14% |
|
Manufacturing |
10,906 |
7% |
|
Accommodation and Food Services |
9,571 |
6% |
|
Health Care and Social Assistance |
8,353 |
5% |
|
Retail Trade |
6,923 |
4% |
|
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services |
5,680 |
3% |
|
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services |
3,570 |
2% |
|
Administrative and Support Services |
3,390 |
2% |
|
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing |
2,586 |
2% |
|
Education and Training |
2,058 |
1% |
|
Arts and Recreation Services |
1,997 |
1% |
|
Financial and Insurance Services |
1,576 |
1% |
|
Wholesale Trade |
1,407 |
1% |
|
Information Media and Telecommunication |
1,379 |
1% |
|
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services |
1,260 |
1% |
|
Transport, Postal and Warehousing |
1,116 |
1% |
|
Public Administration and Safety |
427 |
<1% |
|
Mining |
349 |
<1% |
|
Government and unknown |
113 |
<1% |
|
Total |
167,328 |
100% |
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023.
Location of small business apprentices and trainees
Small businesses employed nearly half of all apprentices and trainees in-training in Victoria and New South Wales in September 2022 (50% and 47% respectively).
Table 3: Apprentices and trainees in-training by location and by employer size, September 2022
|
State or territory |
Small business (less than 19 employees) |
Medium business (20 - 199 employees) |
Large business (200 or more employees) |
Government and unknown |
Total |
|
NSW |
54,688 |
32,468 |
24,678 |
3,625 |
115,460 |
|
VIC |
42,504 |
23,990 |
17,044 |
2,195 |
85,733 |
|
QLD |
40,932 |
28,857 |
25,945 |
2,041 |
97,775 |
|
SA |
4,124 |
4,546 |
5,312 |
16,661 |
30,643 |
|
WA |
15,218 |
13,002 |
17,995 |
921 |
47,136 |
|
TAS |
4,652 |
3,422 |
3,514 |
418 |
12,006 |
|
NT |
1,331 |
1,107 |
867 |
159 |
3,465 |
|
ACT |
2,720 |
2,037 |
1,439 |
368 |
6,564 |
|
Other Territories and unknown |
1,158 |
990 |
1,225 |
90 |
3,463 |
|
Total |
167,328 |
110,421 |
98,018 |
26,479 |
402,246 |
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023.
Sex[1]
Three quarters of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small business in September 2022 were male. These were mainly in the construction industry.
Table 4: Apprentices and trainees in-training by sex and employer size, September 2022
|
Size of business |
Number of male apprentices and trainees in-training |
Number of female apprentices and trainees in-training |
Total number of apprentices and trainees in-training1 |
|
Small (Less than 20 employees) |
124,983 |
42,323 |
167,328 |
|
Medium (20 – 199 employees) |
73,095 |
37,302 |
110,421 |
|
Large (200 or more employees) |
62,547 |
35,448 |
98,018 |
|
Government and unknown |
17,492 |
8,982 |
26,479 |
|
Total |
278,118 |
124,055 |
402,246 |
3 Includes apprentices and trainees where sex was not stated.
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023.
[1] The term “sex” is used since the data is collected using only male or female designations.
Age
Over two thirds of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small business were aged 24 and under in September 2022. These were mainly in the construction industry. The proportion of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small businesses aged 24 and under has fallen from 72% in September 2021 to 67% in September 2022. Apprentices and trainees in-training increased in all age groups in the year to September 2022. Growth was slowest for those aged 24 and under and fastest for those aged 45 and over. The number of apprentices and trainees aged 45 years and over employed by small businesses grew 51% in the year to September 2022.
Table 5: Age of apprentices and trainees in-training, by business size, September 2022
|
Size of business |
19 years and under |
20 to 24 years |
25 to 44 years |
45 years and over |
Total1 |
|
Small (Less than 20 employees) |
55,617 |
56,852 |
46,567 |
8,293 |
167,328 |
|
Medium (20 – 199 employees) |
28,133 |
33,345 |
38,408 |
10,534 |
110,421 |
|
Large (200 or more employees) |
24,368 |
26,857 |
35,656 |
11,137 |
98,018 |
|
Government and unknown1 |
5,972 |
7,381 |
10,064 |
3,059 |
26,479 |
|
Total |
114,090 |
124,435 |
130,695 |
33,023 |
402,246 |
4 Includes apprentices and trainees in-training where age is not known.
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023
People with disability
Small businesses employed 4,725 people with disability[1] as apprentices and trainees in-training in September 2022. They accounted for 41% of all apprentices and trainees with disability in-training.
Table 6: Apprentices and trainees with disability in-training by employer size, September 2022
|
Size of business |
Number of apprentices and trainees with disability in-training |
% of total apprentices and trainees with disability in-training |
Number of apprentices and trainees without disability in-training |
|
Small (Less than 20 employees) |
4,725 |
41% |
158,921 |
|
Medium (20 – 199 employees) |
3,576 |
31% |
104,218 |
|
Large (200 or more employees) |
2,606 |
23% |
92,627 |
|
Government and unknown |
643 |
6% |
24,897 |
|
Total |
11,550 |
100% |
380,662 |
Note: There were an additional 10,034 apprentices and trainees in-training where disability was unknown.
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023
Over half of people with disability employed by small business as apprentices and trainees in-training employed were in two industries:
- Construction (36%). The most common areas were carpentry, electrical and plumbing services.
- Other services (20%). The most common areas were hairdressing and beauty services, automotive electrical services and other automotive repair and maintenance.
[1] Includes people with impairment or long-term conditions.
Table 7: Apprentices and trainees with disability in-training employed by small business, September 2022
|
Industry |
Number of apprentices and trainees with disability in-training employed by small business |
% of apprentices and trainees with disability in-training employed by small business |
|
Construction |
1,724 |
36% |
|
Other Services |
948 |
20% |
|
Manufacturing |
423 |
9% |
|
Accommodation |
393 |
8% |
|
Health Care and Social Assistance |
297 |
6% |
|
Retail Trade |
263 |
6% |
|
Administrative and Support Services |
117 |
2% |
|
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing |
98 |
2% |
|
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services |
95 |
2% |
|
Education and Training |
68 |
1% |
|
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services |
64 |
1% |
|
Information Media and Telecommunication |
51 |
1% |
|
Wholesale Trade |
46 |
1% |
|
Arts and Recreation Services |
44 |
1% |
|
Transport, Postal and Warehousing |
27 |
1% |
|
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services |
26 |
1% |
|
Financial and Insurance Services |
23 |
<1% |
|
Public Administration and Safety |
9 |
<1% |
|
Mining |
3 |
<1% |
|
Industry Unknown |
5 |
<1% |
|
Total |
4,725 |
100% |
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023
First Nations Australians
Small businesses employed 7,673 First Nations Australians apprentices and trainees in-training in September 2022. This accounted for 35% of total First Nations Australians apprentices and trainees in-training.
Table 8: First Nations Australians apprentices and trainees in-training by employer size, September 2022
|
Size of business |
Number of First Nations Australians apprentices and trainees in-training |
% of total First Nations Australians apprentices and trainees in-training |
Number of total apprentices and trainees who are not First Nations Australians in-training |
|
Small (Less than 20 employees) |
7,673 |
35% |
153,213 |
|
Medium (20 – 199 employees) |
5,921 |
27% |
100,424 |
|
Large (200 or more employees) |
6,276 |
29% |
87,740 |
|
Government and unknown |
1,936 |
9% |
23,276 |
|
Total |
21,805 |
100% |
364,653 |
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Note: There were an additional 15,787 apprentices and trainees in-training where it was unknown whether the individual identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023
Growth in First Nations Australian apprentices and trainees in-training in small business has outstripped larger business sizes over the last several years. As a result, small businesses account for a higher proportion of total employment of First Nations Australian peoples.
Chart 2: First Nations Australians apprentices and trainees in-training by business size
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023
People with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Small businesses employed 10,174 apprentices and trainees in-training from non-English speaking backgrounds (based on their country of birth) in September 2022. This accounted for 33% of total apprentices and trainees in-training from non-English speaking countries.
The most common languages spoken at home by small business apprentices and trainees in-training from non-English speaking backgrounds were Mandarin, Arabic and Vietnamese. This was slightly different to:
- Medium businesses: Mandarin, Arabic, and Vietnamese.
- Large businesses: Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Arabic.
Table 9: Apprentices and trainees in-training born overseas, by employer size, September 2022
|
Size of business |
Number of apprentices and trainees in-training from a non-English speaking country |
% of total apprentices and trainees from a non-English speaking country |
Number of total apprentices and trainees from an English-speaking country |
|
Small (Less than 20 employees) |
10,174 |
33% |
157,080 |
|
Medium (20 – 199 employees) |
8,498 |
27% |
101,763 |
|
Large (200 or more employees) |
9,892 |
32% |
88,009 |
|
Government and unknown |
2,728 |
9% |
23,661 |
|
Total |
31,292 |
100% |
370,514 |
Note: There were an additional 440 apprentices and trainees in-training where the country of birth was unknown.
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2023
About the data
We define small businesses as those with less than 20 employees in this data. These statistics provide information on employees who are in-training at the end of the reporting period. In-training includes apprentices and trainees who are actively training under the terms of their contracts. Tables may not sum to totals due to rounding.
