ALA

Lisa Singh, MP

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier

Friday, 12 September 2008

Apprentice and Trainee Numbers Continue to Grow

The number of people starting apprenticeships and traineeships in Tasmania is continuing to grow and outstripping the national average.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Lisa Singh said the latest National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) figures showed a nine per cent increase in the number of Tasmanians starting apprenticeships and traineeships.

“In the year to March 31 2008, 8300 Tasmanians started apprenticeships and traineeships compared to 7600 at the same time last year. This is an increase of nine per cent compared to a national rise of five per cent,” Ms Singh said.

“The number of people beginning apprenticeships and traineeships rose by 50 per cent from December to March and the number of people in training in Tasmania has also grown.

“In March 2008 there were 13,500 trainees and apprentices, an increase of five per cent on the previous year.

“The numbers in training nationally rose by two per cent to 425,800.”

Ms Singh said the State Government was committed to addressing skills shortages.

“Through Skills Tasmania, the government is already testing innovative ways to build workforce capability, now and into the future.

“A record investment of $1.06 billion is being injected into the Tasmanian education and skills sector in the 2008-09 State Budget.

“The Budget delivers a range of new and continuing education and skills initiatives that will provide increased opportunities to Tasmanian children and families in a growing Tasmanian economy.

“While the NCVER results are very good, I am determined that we can do better and I believe that the increased choices offered by the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms will also help to improve these statistics even further,” Ms Singh said.