The latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows that Australian federal, state and territory government expenditure on vocational education and training (VET) totalled $10.9 billion in 2022, an increase of $0.4 billion (or 4.1%) from 2021.
The Government funding of VET 2022 report found that the main expenditure was for VET delivery totalling $5.5 billion in 2022, an increase of $87.8 million (or 1.6%) from 2021. In the same period, employer assistance expenditure also increased by $290.6 million (or 7.8%) to $4.0 billion.
Between 2020 and 2022, government expenditure on VET increased by $3.3 billion (or 44.3%). Employer assistance expenditure increased significantly in the same period, rising by $2.6 billion (or 175.8%).
NCVER Managing Director Simon Walker said, “The growth in employer assistance expenditure between 2020 and 2022, which includes the Australian Government’s Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program¹, coincided with a significant rise in the number of apprentices and trainees in training throughout that same period, as reported in our Apprentices and Trainees 2022: December quarter publication.”
With the gradual phasing out of COVID-19 support programs, government expenditure is expected to decline in future years.
Figure 1: VET Delivery expenditure, Employer assistance expenditure and Total Governments’ Expenditure on VET, 2018 – 2022 ($ billion). Source: Government funding of VET: data tables – table 4.
Data source: Government funding of VET 2022: data tables – table 4
Background:
¹ Note: The Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program (AAIP) expired on 30 June 2022, and the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (AAIS) commenced on 1 July 2022.
Government funding of VET 2022 provides an insight into the flow of funding into the public VET sector, what is funded, and how it is spent. Information is derived from the National VET Funding Collection.
Data are sourced from financial and training records held by the Commonwealth and state and territory departments responsible for VET.
Download the report: Government funding of VET 2022
Enquiries: Chantal Deutrom P: +61 8 8230 8418 E: chantaldeutrom@ncver.edu.au
About NCVER: we are the main provider of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector. Our services help promote better understanding of VET and assist policy makers, practitioners, industry, training providers, and students to make informed decisions.
This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.