APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Can the minister inform the house about apprentices and trainees starting and completing their training in South Australia?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There will be no interjections.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (14:30): I thank the member for his question. I can advise the house that South Australia has record numbers of apprentices and trainees starting and completing their training. Yesterday the National Centre for Vocational Education Research released the 2011 September Quarter Apprentice and Trainee Report. This report indicates that South Australia had a record 23,800 apprentices and trainees starting training in the year ending 30 September 2011. That is an increase of 5.1 per cent, and higher than the 4.7 per cent national increase during the same period. Importantly, 6,600 of these apprentices and trainees commencing training were studying higher level qualifications, that is, certificate IV diplomas and advanced diplomas. This is the highest figure on record, and an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.

This report also shows there were a record number of apprentices and trainees completing their qualifications, with a 5.6 per cent increase on the previous 12 months. Members may be interested to know that apprentice and trainee completions in South Australia also increased for women by 3.5 per cent and young people by 12.5 per cent compared to the previous 12 months to 30 September 2010.

Overall, we have 35,200 apprentices and trainees in training in South Australia. This is the second highest on record, a 5.8 per cent increase over the previous year and higher than the national increase of 3.2 per cent. This includes the highest on record in-training figure of 8,800 for those studying a higher level qualification at certificate IV and above, and that is an increase of 28 per cent compared to a year earlier.

These figures are good news for the South Australian economy. They show steady growth since the September 2006 quarter. Importantly, the number of apprentices and trainees completing their training has been higher than the September 2006 quarter, and every quarter since then. That is a growth from 2,400 completions in the September 2006 quarter to 3,100 completions in the September 2011 quarter.

This shows just how far we have come since then. It shows this government's commitment to encouraging people to improve their skills. What this latest data demonstrates is that we have a robust training sector in this state, with more people than ever starting and completing training, and an increase in the number of South Australians in training.

I will let the facts speak for themselves. These results are good news for South Australians who are improving their skills levels required for jobs, now and in the future. It's good news also for employers and industry who need a highly trained and skilled workforce, and for the state's continued economic growth.