Apprentices and trainees 2026: March quarter

Introduction

Drawing on the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, this report presents data on apprenticeship and traineeship training contracts as at 31 March 2026.

Apprentice and trainee activity is shaped by many factors, including labour market conditions, employer demand, student choices, training provider capacity and government funding. Broader trends should also be considered, particularly in the context of evolving Commonwealth and state and territory apprenticeship and traineeship policy settings over time, including system reforms and priority occupations, and changes to incentives (see the Timeline of Australian VET policy initiatives).

Seasonal patterns are also evident in the data. Commencements are typically higher in the March quarter as more apprentices and trainees begin training at the start of the year, while completions are generally higher in the December quarter as contracts conclude.

Data are presented quarterly and over a 12-month period to support analysis of both short-term movements and longer-term trends. Quarterly data refer to the March quarter, while 12-month data cover the year ending 31 March. In-training is a point-in-time measure as at 31 March each year, while cancellations and withdrawals should be considered alongside recommencements because apprentices and trainees frequently change employers and recommence training under a new contract.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) reports training activity using a trade and non-trade classification based on occupation (see Additional information below). This approach supports nationally consistent reporting, as occupations approved for apprenticeship and traineeship contracts vary across jurisdictions.

Additional data are available from DataBuilder, VOCSTATS, and by request to NCVER.

Longer-term historical trends are available from the Apprentices and trainees 2026: 20-year time series – March quarter.

Key trends at a glance

Apprentices and trainees in training continue to decline

The number of apprentice and trainee active contracts continued to decline across both trade and non-trade occupations nationally.

As at 31 March 2026, there were 289,090 active (in-training) apprentice and trainee contracts, with almost three quarters in trade occupations. Total in-training contracts decreased by 9.0% (down 28,460) compared with the March quarter 2025, including:

• trade contracts decreasing by 5.6% (down 12,880 to 216,000)
• non-trade contracts decreasing by 17.6% (down 15,585 to 73,060).

Trade commencements rise in March quarter

Over the 12 months to March 2026, apprentice and trainee commencements declined, with non-trade commencements falling to record lows. However, quarterly data shows a recent increase in trade commencements.

Compared with the March quarter 2025:

• trade commencements increased by 2% (up 625, to 31,735)
• non-trade commencements decreased by 11.7% (down 2,225, to 16,840).

Fluctuations in trade commencements tend to coincide with labour market demand, business conditions and changes to government incentives.

Trade completions rise, while non-trade completions continue to decline

In the 12 months to March 2026, compared to the previous year:

• trade completions increased by 9.9% (up 5,005 to 55,570)
• non-trade completions decreased by 10.3% (down 4,820 to 42,040).

Increased trade completions reflect the flow-through of higher commencements in 2021 and 2022. Non-trade completions, which typically occur over a shorter duration, peaked earlier but have since declined, with further declines likely as lower commencement numbers continue to flow through.

Occupations and skills shortages

Signs of growth in key trade shortage occupations

In the 12 months to 31 March 2026, trade commencements fell by 1.1% (down 850 to 77,550), marking the fourth consecutive annual decline. The fall was driven by lower commencements for: Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers; Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians; and Food Trades Workers.

However, recent quarterly data show modest growth in trade commencements, increasing by 2.0% in the March quarter, with strong growth recorded for several key occupations in shortage including:

• Electricians, up 19.0% (by 1,095 to 6,870)
• Carpenters and Joiners, up 10.3% (by 405 to 4,340)
• Plumbers, up 5.4% (by 155 to 2,965).

Recent quarterly data show record-high commencements for Electricians and Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics.

In the 12 months to March 2026, trade completions reached record highs for Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers, Construction Trades Workers, and Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers, reflecting the flow-through of higher commencements in earlier years.

Trade apprentices and trainees in-training remained concentrated in a small number of occupation groups. As at 31 March 2026, Construction Trades Workers, Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers, and Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers together accounted for 82.8% of all trade contracts in-training.

Non-trade declines continue, with growth in some shortage occupations

In the 12 months to 31 March 2026, non-trade commencements fell by 13.4% (down 8,830 to 57,240), continuing the downward trend since 2022.

Despite broader declines, quarterly increases were recorded in some occupations, including Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks, Real Estate Sales Agents, and Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers. Child Carers remained a shortage occupation across all states and territories and, despite falling commencements, continued to represent the largest share of non-trade commencements (18.5%).

Non-trade completions continued to decline across many occupations, with Clerical and Administrative Workers, Managers, Professionals and Sales Workers declining by more than 20% in the 12 months to 31 March 2026. However, completions increased for several shortage occupations over both the quarterly and 12-month periods, including Child Carers and Truck Drivers, with particularly strong growth for Aged and Disabled Carers, whose completions almost doubled over the year.

Non-trade apprentices and trainees in-training remain concentrated in a small number of occupation groups. As at 31 March 2026, Community and Personal Service Workers, Machinery Operators and Drivers, and Clerical and Administrative Workers together accounted for 78.4% of all non-trade contracts in-training.

State and territory trends

Declines across states and territories driven by non-trades

Apprentice and trainee contracts in-training declined across all states and territories in the 12 months to 31 March 2026, with decreases largely driven by non-trade contracts. Similar patterns were observed for commencements.

Over the 12 months to March 2026:

• trade commencements were stable or declined across most jurisdictions, with Victoria recording the largest decrease (down 1,495)
• non-trade commencements declined across all jurisdictions, with Queensland (down 2,650), New South Wales (down 1,890) and Western Australia (down 1,545) recording the largest decreases.

More recent quarterly data indicate improvements in trade commencements for New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Non-trade commencements declined for a fourth consecutive year across most jurisdictions.

Over the longer term, all states and territories have experienced declines in training activity since 2022, particularly in non-trade contracts. Trade commencements declined across all states and territories over this period, with large percentage decreases recorded in Victoria, Tasmania, and Australian Capital Territory.

Equity and participation

Equity participation declines overall, but females record growth in some male-dominated trades

In line with broader trends, apprentice and trainee in-training numbers declined across selected equity groups in the 12 months to March 2026. The largest decreases were among females (down 13.6%), individuals from regional and remote areas (down 8.5%) and people from language backgrounds other than English (down 8.4%).

Consistent with overall trends, declines were more pronounced in non-trade occupations across all selected equity groups. Trade occupations recorded smaller declines overall with people with a disability the only group to record an increase in trade in-training contracts (up 3.9%).

While female trade commencements declined in the 12 months to March 2026 (down 9.7%), increases were recorded in some male-dominated trades such as Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers and Construction Trades Workers. Female completions also increased across several male-dominated trades, including:

• Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers, up 29.5% to 960
• Construction Trades Workers, up 43.0% to 480
• Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers, up 32.3% to 755.

Trade commencements increased for Indigenous apprentices and trainees (up 2.9%) and people with a disability (up 4.5%). Trade completions increased across all equity groups, led by people with a disability (up 19.0%) and Indigenous apprentices and trainees (up 18.8%). In contrast, non-trade commencements and completions declined across all equity groups, except for completions among Indigenous apprentices and trainees, which remained fairly stable.

Employers and training providers

Employment is concentrated in Construction, with service industries dominating non-trades

Apprentices and trainees work and train with an employer to gain on-the-job skills while also studying with a registered training organisation to obtain a qualification. Apprentice and trainee employment is concentrated in a small number of industries, with more than one-third employed in Construction (37.8%).

Trade contracts are heavily concentrated in Construction, while non-trade contracts are more dispersed across the service industries, particularly Health Care and Social Assistance, Administrative and Support Services, and Accommodation.

Trade commencements increase at TAFE despite broader declines

Around two-thirds of trade apprentices and trainees (62.9%) attended a TAFE training provider. In contrast, most apprentices and trainees in non-trade occupations (75.4%) trained with a private provider.

In the 12 months to March 2026, trade commencements declined across most provider types, except for TAFE institutes, which recorded a 2.4% increase. Non-trade commencements, however, declined across all provider types. More recent quarterly data also show a decline in non-trade commencements across all provider types, while trade commencements were mixed, with increases for TAFE institutes, schools and enterprise providers.

By employer type, the number of trade apprentices and trainees in training is highest in the private sector, but has been declining. Trade apprentice numbers have also fallen among group training organisations, while the government sector has recorded steady growth. For non-trades, however, in-training numbers declined across all employer types.

Trade contracts were most common among small employers with 5–19 employees (33.0%). Non-trade contracts were concentrated among large employers with 200 or more employees (50.1%), followed by medium-sized employers with 20–199 employees (31.5%).

Across both trade and non-trade occupations, quarterly commencements were predominantly undertaken by newly commencing workers (90.5%), with existing workers accounting for a much smaller share of commencements (9.5%).

Of those in training, most trade apprentices and trainees were employed full-time (91.6%), with only 8.4% employed part-time. Non-trade apprentices and trainees, however, were more evenly split between full-time (55.7%) and part-time (44.3%) employment.

Additional information

1. Unless stated otherwise, data are derived from the latest National Apprentice and Trainee Collection (no. 128, June 2026 estimates), using data to 31 March 2026, which is compiled under the Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS) for Apprentice and Trainee Collection Specifications, Release 7.0, October 2015.

2. Due to the delay in time between an event (commencement, completion, etc.) occurring and the reporting of that event to NCVER, estimates are applied to the most recent figures. The estimation method involves weighting recently processed numbers based on average reporting lags. As estimates are revised for up to seven quarters, figures for the last two years may differ from those published in earlier or subsequent reports. The final counts are those submitted by jurisdictions. Further details on the methodology can be found in the Estimation of apprentice and trainee statistics technical paper.

3. The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia caused significant uncertainty for individuals, businesses, and governments. The resulting suspension of normal economic activities, combined with various government and economic interventions, has impacted apprentice and trainee numbers. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting and comparing data from 2020 onwards.

4. In-training figures represent the number of apprenticeship and traineeship training contracts where the apprentice or trainee is actively training under the terms of their contract and has not completed, cancelled or withdrawn from their training, or had their training contract expired. The figure reflects the number of active contracts at a given point in time (at the end of the quarter), and therefore in-training figures cannot be cumulated over time. For this reason, quarterly comparisons are equivalent to 12-months ending comparisons as they both represent the changes as at 31 March from one year to the next.

5. All values are rounded to the nearest five, which may result in some values rounding to zero. As a result of rounding, numbers in the body of a table might not sum to the rounded totals.

6. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place using unrounded data.

7. Data are suppressed where no data are reported across the selected categories or period, while ‘n/a’ indicates that data are not reported for a specific value.

8. Totals include all contracts, including those with unknown status. As a result, figures presented in tables may not sum to the total where unknown data are not reported separately.

9. While the report is limited to data on contract commencements, recommencements, in-training, completions and cancellations/withdrawals, data on contract expiries and suspensions are available in VOCSTATS.

10. As the vocations approved for inclusion under an apprenticeship or traineeship training contract are not consistent across all jurisdictions, NCVER has adopted a Trade/Non-trade categorisation for the purpose of the National Apprentices and Trainees Collection with ‘Trades’ classified as all occupations listed under ANZSCO major group ‘3-Technicians and Trades workers’ and ‘Non-trades’, classified as all other major occupation groups 1-2 and 4-8. Occupations are classified using the ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022 Australian Update.

SOURCE: National Centre for Vocational Education Research 2026, National Apprentice and Trainee collection no. 128, June 2026 estimates, NCVER, Adelaide.

REFERENCES: Jobs and Skills Australia 2025, 2025 Unit Group Shortage List – 4 digit ANZSCO [Excel spreadsheet], Jobs and Skills Australia, Australian Government, https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortage.