Industry training and apprenticeships
Definition
The proportion of young people aged 15 to 24 participating in apprenticeships and/or industry training.
Note: in this indicator, Modern Apprenticeship participants are included in (and not additional to) industry trainee participants, but are also reported on separately.
Relevance
Industry training is employment-based vocational education and training. It is arranged by Industry Training Organisations, which are industry bodies recognised to provide coverage for specific industries under the Industry Training Act 1991.
Arrangements are designed to address the circumstances of particular industries and can be on-the-job, or off-the-job (where an Industry Training Organisation arranges training by a registered training provider, e.g. an Institute of Technology or Polytechnic), or in a combination of both.
Industry training provides opportunities for participants to develop both foundation and advanced skills required in the workplace. With rapid changes in technology, knowledge and the economy, it is important that people have access to education and training in order to update their skills following the completion of their initial education.
Industry training is assessed against national standards set by the industry, and earns credits and qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework. It is open to all ages, with the exception of Modern Apprenticeships.
Modern Apprenticeships is a subset of industry training and is an employment-based education initiative available to young people aged 16 to 21 (with a small number of discretionary enrolments at older and younger ages)(1) in which young people can gain a National Qualifications Framework qualification through on-the-job learning whilst earning a wage.
Modern Apprentices and their employers are supported by local Modern Apprenticeships Co-ordinators, and placements are available in more than thirty industries.
Current level and trends
In 2007, 48,330 young people aged 15 to 24 undertook industry training, representing 7.9 percent of all young people aged 15 to 24.
Of these industry trainees, 37 percent (17,862) were aged 15 to 19 and 63 percent (30,468) were aged 20 to 24. The 2007 participation level for the 15 to 24 age group is a very significant increase on the level in 2001 (27,122, representing 5.4 percent of all young people aged 15 to 24 in 2001).
There were 13,066 Modern Apprentices aged 15 to 24 in 2007, representing 2.1 percent of all young people aged 15 to 24.
Of these, 48.9 percent (6,395) were aged 15 to 19 and 51.1 percent (6,671) were aged 20 to 24. The 2007 participation level for the 15 to 24 age group is nearly a six-fold increase on the level in 2001 (1,912, representing 0.4 percent of all young people aged 15 to 24 in 2001).
| Ethnic group | Number | Proportion of total population |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Apprentices | ||
| 15 to 19 | 6,395 | 2.0% |
| 20 to 24 | 6,671 | 2.3% |
| 15 to 24 | 13,066 | 2.1% |
| Industry trainees | ||
| 15 to 19 | 17,862 | 5.6% |
| 20 to 24 | 30,468 | 10.4% |
| 15 to 24 | 48,330 | 7.9% |
Source: Tertiary Education Commission. Rates derived using Statistics New Zealand 2007 population estimates.
Notes
1. All ages given above are as at 1 July 2007, so it may be that a 16-year-old Modern Apprentice was 15 at 1 July 2007, but took up the apprenticeship in the second half of the year. Modern Apprentices may sometimes remain on the programme past their 22nd birthday.
