NAME OF COLLECTION
Training Practices Survey
Contact
Assistant Director
National Centre for Education and Training
Australian Bureau of Statistics
PO Box 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Telephone: Canberra 02 6252 6660
Facsimile: Canberra 02 62521 8013
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au
Internet: www.abs.gov.au
Purpose
To provide statistical input into policy development on enterprise-based training and to assist in
the evaluation of national training policies.
Description
The Training Practices Survey provides statistics about the type of training employers provided to their employees
over a 12 month reference period. The survey asks for details of both structured and unstructured training.
Structured training is defined as all training activities which have a predetermined plan and formal design to develop employment-related skills and competencies. Unstructured training is defined as all training activities which do not have a specified content or predetermined plan.
The 1997 Training Practices Survey used the same sample of approximately 6,000 employers as was used for the
1996 Training Expenditure Survey. This sample was selected from the ABS register of businesses and was stratified
by sector, detailed industry and employer size, and was optimally allocated to ensure adequate representation in each
of these areas. The use of a common sample for the two surveys allows data from the 1996 Training Expenditure Survey
to be linked with the 1997 Training Practices Survey.
The Training Practices Survey was a mail-based survey.
Data detail
- Proportion of employees in occupation groups;
- Proportion of apprentices and entry level trainees;
- Employee turnover;
- Employers providing training (structured and unstructured);
- Changes in, and factors affecting, the level of training (structured and unstructured);
- Reasons why structured training provided;
- Methods used to determine training requirements;
- Whether and how written training plans are used;
- Methods of training delivery;
- Use of external training provider;
- Years of operation of organisation in the specified State and Territory;
- Factors significantly changing the operations of the organisation;
- Change in the overall level of business activity;
- Employers with recruitment difficulties; and
- Occupational groups in which organisations experienced recruitment difficulties.
In relation to tourism, broad level industry data are available for the above items and may be cross classified by sector, employer size and State and Territory.
Geographic coverage
Australia, States and Territories.
Frequency of data availability
Irregular.
Historical data
The survey has been conducted in 1994 and most recently in 1997. The sample for the 1997 survey included approximately
35% of employers who participated in the 1994 survey. The common sample assists the comparability of results derived from consistent data items between the two surveys.
The survey was revised in 1997 to obtain a broader view of training provided by employers and to target current statistical
needs related to employer training. Some additional questions were included, particularly on unstructured training,
and some previous questions were removed or updated. The changes to the questionnaire limit comparability with the 1994 survey in some cases.
The industry classification used by the ABS altered following the 1994 survey. The 1994 survey was designed using the Australian Standard Industrial Classification (ASIC). The 1997 survey was based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). To allow comparisons to be made at the industry level it is necessary to convert the 1994 results to an ANZSIC basis.
Products and services available
Publications
Employer Training Practices, Australia, 1997 (cat. no. 6356.0)
Other
Special data services are available on request.
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