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
Table 1: Apprentices and trainees in-training by employer size, December 2021
|
Size of business |
Number of apprentices and trainees in-training |
% of apprentices and trainees in-training |
|
0-19 (Small) |
151,728 |
43% |
|
20-199 (Medium) |
96,812 |
28% |
|
200+ (Large) |
88,800 |
25% |
|
Unknown |
11,893 |
3% |
|
Total |
349,233 |
100% |
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 28/07/22.
Chart 1: Apprentices and trainees in-training by employer size
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 28/07/22.
Small businesses employed 151,728 apprentices and trainees in-training on 31 December 2021. This was a 19% increase compared to the same time in 2020 and slightly lower than at the end of September 2021.[1]
The number of apprentices and trainees in-training has remained relatively high since the December quarter 2020. This has been supported by the Australian Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy, introduced in October 2020.[2]
Small businesses accounted for 43% of all apprentices and trainees in-training in 31 December 2021. This proportion has been increasing over the last few years and is significantly higher than medium or large businesses.
[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] National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCEVER), Numbers of apprentic...~https://www.ncver.edu.au/news-and-events/media-releases/numbers-of-apprentices-and-trainees-in-training-remain-high
Industries of small business apprentices and trainees
Table 2: Apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small business, December 2021
|
Industry |
Number of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small business |
% of apprentices and trainees in-training employed by small business |
|
Construction |
77,329 |
51% |
|
Other Services |
21,811 |
14% |
|
Manufacturing |
10,248 |
7% |
|
Accommodation and Food Services |
8,173 |
5% |
|
Health Care and Social Assistance |
7,519 |
5% |
|
Retail Trade |
5,809 |
4% |
|
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services |
4,007 |
3% |
|
Administrative and Support Services |
2,873 |
2% |
|
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services |
2,506 |
2% |
|
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing |
2269 |
1% |
|
Education and Training |
1,781 |
1% |
|
Arts and Recreation Services |
1,315 |
1% |
|
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services |
1,267 |
1% |
|
Wholesale Trade |
1,255 |
1% |
|
Information Media and Telecommunications |
1,027 |
1% |
|
Transport, Postal and Warehousing |
903 |
1% |
|
Financial and Insurance Services |
893 |
1% |
|
Public Administration and Safety |
398 |
<1% |
|
Mining |
277 |
<1% |
|
Not known |
69 |
<1% |
|
Total |
151,728 |
100% |
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 28/07/22.
As shown in the tables above, the industries with the highest proportion of small business’ apprentices and trainees in-training in December 2021 were:
- Construction (51%), 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).
Sex[1]
Table 3: Apprentices and trainees by sex and employer size, December 2021
|
Number of male apprentices and trainees in-training |
Number of female apprentices and trainees in-training |
Total number of apprentices and trainees in-training1 |
|
|
0-19 (Small) |
116,547 |
35,178 |
151,728 |
|
20-199 (Medium) |
66,104 |
30,708 |
96,812 |
|
200+ (Large) |
58,959 |
29,840 |
88,800 |
|
Unknown |
7,800 |
4,093 |
11,893 |
|
Total |
249,410 |
99,819 |
349,233 |
1Includes apprentices and trainees where sex was not stated.
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 30/07/22.
Over three quarters of apprentices and trainees in-training who were employed by small business were male in December 2021. They were mainly in the construction industry.
Age
Table 4: Age of apprentices and trainees in-training, by business size
|
Size of business |
19 years and under |
20 to 24 years |
25 to 44 years |
45 years and over |
Total1 |
|
0-19 (Small) |
52,383 |
54,808 |
38,491 |
6,046 |
151,728 |
|
20-199 (Medium) |
24,847 |
30,811 |
32,431 |
8,712 |
96,812 |
|
200+ (Large) |
19,920 |
25,941 |
32,695 |
10,244 |
88,800 |
|
Unknown |
3,139 |
3,648 |
3,969 |
1,126 |
11,893 |
|
Total |
100,289 |
115,207 |
107,585 |
26,128 |
349,233 |
1 Includes apprentices and trainees in-training where age is not known.
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 30/07/22.
Over 70% of apprentices and trainees in-training who were employed by small business were aged 24 years or under in December 2021. They were mainly in the construction industry.
[1] The term “sex” is used since the data is collected using only male or female designations.
People with disability
Table 5: Apprentices and trainees with disability in-training by employer size, December 2021
|
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 |
|
0-19 (Small) |
4,114 |
44% |
143,356 |
|
20-199 (Medium) |
2,887 |
31% |
90,829 |
|
200+ (Large) |
2,032 |
22% |
83,599 |
|
Unknown |
295 |
3% |
10,969 |
|
Total |
9,329 |
100% |
328,753 |
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 30/07/22.
Small businesses employed 4,114 people with disability[1] as apprentices and trainees in-training in December 2021. They accounted for 44% of all apprentices and trainees with disability in-training.
Chart 2: Apprentices and trainees with disability in-training by employer size
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 30/07/22.
The proportion of people with disability who were employed by small business as apprentices and trainees in-training is rising, reaching a record 44% in December 2021.
[1] Includes people with impairment or long-term conditions.
Growth of people with disability employed in small business as apprentices and trainees in-training has outstripped larger businesses over the past few years. Small business accounted for 44% of all people with disability employed as apprentices and trainees in-training in December 2021. This is a higher proportion of total employment for people with disability than other business sizes.
Table 6: Apprentices and trainees with disability in-training employed by small business, 31 December 2021
|
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 |
1,543 |
38% |
|
Other Services |
880 |
21% |
|
Manufacturing |
382 |
9% |
|
Accommodation and Food Services |
336 |
8% |
|
Health Care and Social Assistance |
245 |
6% |
|
Retail Trade |
223 |
5% |
|
Administrative and Support Services |
101 |
2% |
|
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing |
82 |
2% |
|
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services |
64 |
2% |
|
Education and Training |
60 |
1% |
|
Information Media and Telecommunication |
39 |
1% |
|
Wholesale Trade |
36 |
1% |
|
Arts and Recreation Services |
33 |
1% |
|
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services |
27 |
1% |
|
Transport, Postal and Warehousing |
24 |
1% |
|
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services |
20 |
<1% |
|
Financial and Insurance Services |
10 |
<1% |
|
Public Administration and Safety |
6 |
<1% |
|
Mining |
2 |
<1% |
|
Not Known |
0 |
0% |
|
Total |
4,114 |
100% |
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 30/07/22.
Over half of people with disability employed by small business as apprentices and trainees in-training were employed were in two industries:
- Construction (38%), particularly carpentry, electrical and plumbing services.
- Other services (21%), particularly hairdressing and beauty services and automotive repair and maintenance.
Indigenous people
Table 7: Indigenous apprentices and trainees in-training by employer size, December 2021
|
Size of business |
Number of Indigenous apprentices and trainees in-training |
% of total Indigenous apprentices and trainees in-training |
Number of total apprentices and trainees who are not Indigenous in-training |
|
0-19 (Small) |
6,949 |
38% |
137,798 |
|
20-199 (Medium) |
5,158 |
28% |
87,126 |
|
200+ (Large) |
5,914 |
32% |
78,216 |
|
Unknown |
387 |
2% |
10,715 |
|
Total |
18,408 |
100% |
313,855 |
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 30/07/22.
Chart 3: Indigenous apprentices and trainees in-training by business size
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 30/07/22.
Small businesses employed 6,949 Indigenous apprentices and trainees in-training in December 2021. This accounted for 38% of total Indigenous apprentices and trainees in-training.
Growth in Indigenous apprentices and trainees in-training in small business has outstripped the growth of those in larger business sizes over the last few years. As a result, small businesses account for a higher proportion of total employment of Indigenous people. Small business employed 38% of Indigenous apprentices and trainees in-training in December 2021.
People with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Table 8: Apprentices and trainees in-training born overseas, by employer size, December 2021
|
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 |
|
0-19 (Small) |
7,939 |
32% |
143,681 |
|
20-199 (Medium) |
7,029 |
29% |
89,496 |
|
200+ (Large) |
8,185 |
33% |
80,506 |
|
Unknown |
1,290 |
5% |
10,539 |
|
Total |
24,444 |
100% |
324,221 |
Source: VOCSTATS, <https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/vocstats>, extracted on 30/07/22.
Small businesses employed 7,939 apprentices and trainees in-training from non-English speaking backgrounds (based on their country of birth) in December 2021. This accounted for 32% 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 Hindi. This was slightly different to medium and large businesses. The most common languages spoken at home for:
- medium businesses were Tagalog, Mandarin, and Hindi
- large businesses were Tagalog, Hindi, and Punjabi.
Scope of these statistics
To ensure ASBFEO statistics are as accurate as possible the scope used for these statistics has altered from our previous publications. As a result of this difference in scope, we previously published higher estimates of apprentices and trainees that are not comparable with 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. Our previous publications included all apprentices and trainees, irrespective of the status of their training contract. These numbers were considerably higher, as they included apprentices and trainees whose training:
- had been completed or cancelled, or
- contracts were expired, due to incomplete prescribed program requirements at a given point in time.
