The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has found that 32 per cent of young Australians aged between 15-19 years participated in vocational education and training in 2011.

 

The Australian vocational education and training statistics: Students and courses 2011 provides an annual snapshot of student enrolments and training activity.

 

The report found the 15-19 age group saw growth of an additional 16,2000 students, making up 25.4 per cent of the total student population.

 

The growth in the number of young Australians undertaking vocational education and training is 3.5%,” said Ms Sandra Pattison, General Manager, Statistics, NCVER.

 

“At the same time, the largest growth has been in the 25–44 year age group with an additional 37 400 students,” she said.

 

Overall, the total number of Australian students enrolled in public vocational education (VET) and training reached 1.9 million in 2011, an increase of 4.6% since 2010.

 

“Training numbers in health, business and community services training packages have also increased over the last five years,” Ms Pattison said.

 

Management, commerce, engineering and technology were the top choices in 2011, making up almost 40% of student numbers for the year.

 

Almost two-thirds of Australian students (66.3%) were enrolled at TAFE or another government provider, while other registered non-government providers accounted for more than one-quarter (25.6%) of public VET students.

 

Almost half a million student places at other registered non-government providers were Commonwealth and state funded in 2011 (482 600). This is an increase of more than 170 000 students since 2010 (308 500).