More South Australians are accessing training in areas of demand, with the State Government’s investments targeting labour market shortages.

Recent data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Government-funded students and courses – January to March 2023, shows a 9.1% increase in enrolments in VET programs compared with the same period in 2022. This growth is above the national average and the second highest increase of all states and territories.

The top 5 course areas that students have enrolled in align with the needs of our State, including:

• Community Services
• Construction and plumbing
• Electrotechnology
• Business services
• Health

Importantly, enrolments at TAFE SA grew by 4% compared to the same time last year – the first time enrolments have grown in over 4 years.

The growth of enrolments comes as strong apprenticeship and traineeship data is also released from NCVER showing increases in commencements in apprenticeships and traineeships for a second consecutive quarter despite the conclusion of the Commonwealth Government’s COVID wage subsidy in June last year – with trade commencements increasing by 178% in the March 2023 quarter compared with September 2022, and non-trades increasing by 90%.

Pleasingly, commencements are above pre-COVID levels (up 32% compared with the March quarter in 2019), showing that the State Government’s investments are ensuring strong participation in apprenticeships and traineeships post-COVID. Completions in the past year have also increased by 4.8%.

The significant investments being made by the State Government to address the national skills crisis and ensure continued growth in the pipeline of workers includes:

• Building 5 brand new Technical Colleges for years 10-12 students to walk straight from school into jobs such as builders, electricians, mechanics and early childhood educators
• 12,500 fee-free TAFE places in partnership with the Commonwealth Government – with another 15,000 places over the next 3 years.
• An extension of the Group Training Organisation Boost Program to support mature age apprentices to start and complete their course
• Funding for the Motor Trades Association and Master Builders Association to increase the number of apprentices in the automotive and building industries
• $10.2 million for a TAFE Regional Skills Development fund to offer more courses in rural and regional South Australia
• $8.8 million to tackle skills shortages in areas such as bricklaying, concreting and cookery
• The return of aged care, disability and early childhood courses to TAFE SA’s metropolitan campuses – cut by the former government
• $9 million for state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to train South Australians for the jobs that need filling.

The State Government has also led a national project to increase completions, which will be released in the coming weeks. This will guide future investment of all states and territories to increase completion rates.