Entering industry: A case study of links between a school VET program and the building and construction industry

Few studies have tracked youth transition beyond the immediate post-school period or have looked at the longer-term outcomes of post-school programs. This study reports the findings of a case study investigating links between an industry-specific school vocational education and training (VET) program and subsequent work transitions to the building and construction industry. It provides important insights into the early career experiences of young people.

The program under consideration—the Family of Trades—is a one-year cross-sectoral school VET program auspiced by the building and construction industry in Western Australia. The program operated in schools in the south-east metropolitan region of Perth between 1999 and 2001. In this program, Year 11 students, drawn from up to seven schools (government and non-government) attended the local technical and further education (TAFE) campus for one day a week for one semester to receive trade instruction in four building and construction trades. In the second semester, 120 hours of structured work experience were undertaken in one of these trades.

The study population was drawn from a low-income region where high numbers of local students are considered to be at risk of not completing formal education. The region also shows generally low levels of qualifications and pockets of high unemployment.

The study employed a qualitative methodology which involved two rounds of open-ended interviews with 72 of the original 121 students who undertook the program while in Year 11 in either 1999 or 2000.

This study also draws on longitudinal data gathered by the author and colleagues over two evaluations of the school VET program. One of these includes an assessment of the work readiness and career decision-making among the 1999 group of students which was undertaken in 2000 for the Western Australian Department of Training.

In particular, the study examined the longer-term outcomes (three years post-school in some cases) and the relationship with industry in relation to:

• employment and/or apprenticeships and traineeship opportunities being realised

• entry, retention rates and early career experiences of those who exited school during, or at the end of the Year 11 program and those who elected to complete Year 12

• young people's assessments of their choice of occupation and involvement in the building industry

• perceptions of relationships between the industry-specific Year 11 VET program and early career opportunities and experiences

• the ways in which economic fluctuations in general, and the concurrent building and construction industry business cycles in particular, impact on the transition and early career experiences of these young people.

The building and construction industry itself poses particular challenges for youth. While it is characterised by a high number of apprentices, and apprenticeships are the sector's major avenue of recruitment, the industry also has a high number of workers without post-school qualifications. Moreover, the industry offers little opportunity for part-time work, and relies heavily on overtime. It is also experiencing difficulty retaining qualified tradespeople. Of immediate impact on employment in the sector are the changes the economy has recently undergone and the volatile and somewhat erratic cyclical nature of the industry.

The report identifies positive short- and longer-term outcomes of the Family of Trades program and clearly demonstrates that the program was instrumental in assisting career decision-making and entry to work.

The data presented in this report do not allow definitive links to be made between the school VET program and school-to-work transition. However, the findings suggest some tentative relationships between the two can be identified. That is, the young people in this study:

• acquired or consolidated an interest in the building and construction industry as a result of the program

• were provided with the opportunity to explore the industry's scope and employment potential

• were familiarised with the industry-related employment and training options

• were assisted with the establishment of an implicit network of industry-related contacts, and that these were utilised during and after the transition period

• found it relatively easy to move into and around the industry, continuing to utilise the Family of Trades, TAFE and peer contacts well into their early careers

• showed little understanding or interest in wider predictions about impending economic downfalls in the sector and tended to hold an optimistic opinion about their long-term future in their trade

• expressed high job satisfaction in the industry, and indeed, in the trades they had chosen

• expressed a sound understanding of what employers across the trades look for, and the attributes they require to maintain their employment in the industry

• generally enjoyed good relationships with management and supervisors.

Moreover, the majority of the respondents expressed confidence, enthusiasm and satisfaction over the transition process and early career experiences. They clearly saw the value of persevering with their training despite the challenges, and this is reflected in the high retention rate for these young people in apprenticeships.

Although not the only VET program many of these young people undertook while at school, the Family of Trades participants continue to acknowledge and refer to the program-both the TAFE and the work experience components-long after the experience.