Participation in work-related training

Released

20/12/2017

Source

What is work related training?

Work-related training refers to structured learning activities that do not lead to a formal qualification. These often take place at the workplace (delivered by another employee or a consultant hired to deliver the work-related training) or can be undertaken externally. For more information about learning that results in the award of a formal qualification, see Education and Work, Australia.

Participation in work-related training

Around 3.8 million (21.5%) Australians aged 15-74 years participated in work-related training in 2016-17. This was a decrease from 2013 (26.9%) and 2005 (35.9%). People who are employed (30.5%) have higher participation rates in work-related training than those who are unemployed (9.6%) or not in the labour force (2.5%).

In 2016-17, men and women reported equal rates of participation in work-related training (21.5%). Work-related training participation rates were lowest for those aged 15-24 years (10.6%) and 65-74 years (4.5%). This reflects lower rates of employment in these age group.

Graph 1 - Participation in work-related training by age groups, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)
Age group (years)	2005 (%)	2013 (%)	2016-17 (%)
15-19	23.7	17.6	10.6
20-24	40.6	27.7	20.6
25-34	46.6	33.3	26.6
35-44	43.9	33.4	28.7
45-54	44.4	32.7	27.2
55-64	25.5	23.4	19.4
65-74	3.3	5.5	4.5

Graph 1 - Participation in work-related training by age groups, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)

["Age group (years)","2005","2013","2016-17"]

[["15-19","20-24","25-34","35-44","45-54","55-64","65-74"],[[23.699999999999999],[40.600000000000001],[46.600000000000001],[43.899999999999999],[44.399999999999999],[25.5],[3.2999999999999998]],[[17.600000000000001],[27.699999999999999],[33.299999999999997],[33.399999999999999],[32.700000000000003],[23.399999999999999],[5.5]],[[10.6],[20.600000000000001],[26.600000000000001],[28.699999999999999],[27.199999999999999],[19.399999999999999],[4.5]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"5","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"%","precision":"","table_units":"(%)","tooltip_units":"(%)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

There were changes in collection methods between the surveys in 2005, 2013 and 2016-17. See the Explanatory notes for details.
Persons aged 65-74 years permanently not intending to work, and all respondents who were permanently unable to work, were not asked about work-related training and are included as not participating.
Data from 2016-17 has been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Source(s): Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005 and Work-Related Training and Adult Learning, Australia, 2013 and 2016-17

Across Australia in 2016-17, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest rate of people participating in work-related training (31.7%) while Queensland had the lowest participation rate (17.8%). Participation across all States and Territories has decreased since 2005.

Graph 2 - Participation in work-related training by state & territory, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)
States and territories	2005 (%)	2013 (%)	2016-17 (%)
NSW	33.2	26.5	20.9
Vic.	32.8	25.8	23.5
Qld	34.8	24	17.8
SA	31.6	27.5	23.2
WA	34.1	33.6	22.3
Tas.	28.4	27.8	24.1
NT	34.7	28.3	24.1
ACT	46.1	38.6	31.7

Graph 2 - Participation in work-related training by state & territory, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)

["States and territories","2005","2013","2016-17"]

[["NSW","Vic.","Qld","SA","WA","Tas.","NT","ACT"],[[33.200000000000003],[32.799999999999997],[34.799999999999997],[31.600000000000001],[34.100000000000001],[28.399999999999999],[34.700000000000003],[46.100000000000001]],[[26.5],[25.800000000000001],[24],[27.5],[33.600000000000001],[27.800000000000001],[28.300000000000001],[38.600000000000001]],[[20.899999999999999],[23.5],[17.800000000000001],[23.199999999999999],[22.300000000000001],[24.100000000000001],[24.100000000000001],[31.699999999999999]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"5","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"%","precision":"","table_units":"(%)","tooltip_units":"(%)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

There were changes in collection methods between the surveys in 2005, 2013 and 2016-17. See the Explanatory notes for details.
Participation in the 12 months prior to survey; persons aged 15 to 74 years.
Persons aged 65-74 years permanently not intending to work, and all respondents who were permanently unable to work, were not asked about work-related training and are included as not participating.
Data from 2016-17 has been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Source(s): Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005 and Work-Related Training and Adult Learning, Australia, 2013 and 2016-17

Rates of work related training participation are relatively similar across major cities (21.4%), inner regional (22.7%) and outer regional and remote Australia (20.5%). Participation in 2016-17 across all remoteness areas has decreased since 2005.

Graph 3 - Participation in work-related training by remote area, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)
	2005 (%)	2013 (%)	2016-17 (%)
Major cities	36.6	27.1	21.4
Inner regional	34.1	25.5	22.7
Outer regional and remote	34.9	28.4	20.5

Graph 3 - Participation in work-related training by remote area, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)

["","2005","2013","2016-17"]

[["Major cities","Inner regional","Outer regional and remote"],[[36.600000000000001],[34.100000000000001],[34.899999999999999]],[[27.100000000000001],[25.5],[28.399999999999999]],[[21.399999999999999],[22.699999999999999],[20.5]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"5","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"%","precision":"","table_units":"(%)","tooltip_units":"(%)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

There were changes in collection methods between the surveys in 2005, 2013 and 2016-17. See the Explanatory notes for details.
Participation in the 12 months prior to survey; persons aged 15 to 74 years.
Persons aged 65-74 years permanently not intending to work, and all respondents who were permanently unable to work, were not asked about work-related training and are included as not participating.
Data from 2016-17 has been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Source(s): Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005 and Work-Related Training and Adult Learning, Australia, 2013 and 2016-17

People living in areas with the most socio-economic disadvantage (Quintile 1) were less likely to participate in work-related training than those in the least disadvantaged areas. Work related training participation in 2016-17 across all levels of disadvantage has decreased since 2005. The fall in participation is larger (in absolute terms) in the least disadvantaged areas.

Graph 4 - Participation in work-related training by socio-economic disadvantage, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)
Socio-economic disadvantage	2005 (%)	2013 (%)	2016-17 (%)
Most disadvantaged	24.6	19.6	16.7
Second quintile	33.2	23.7	20.1
Third quintile	36.4	27.9	21.1
Fourth quintile	40	31.1	24.3
Least disadvantaged	42.1	31.5	24.1

Graph 4 - Participation in work-related training by socio-economic disadvantage, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)

["Socio-economic disadvantage","2005","2013","2016-17"]

[["Most disadvantaged","Second quintile","Third quintile","Fourth quintile","Least disadvantaged"],[[24.600000000000001],[33.200000000000003],[36.399999999999999],[40],[42.100000000000001]],[[19.600000000000001],[23.699999999999999],[27.899999999999999],[31.100000000000001],[31.5]],[[16.699999999999999],[20.100000000000001],[21.100000000000001],[24.300000000000001],[24.100000000000001]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"5","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"%","precision":"","table_units":"(%)","tooltip_units":"(%)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

There were changes in collection methods between the surveys in 2005, 2013 and 2016-17. See the Explanatory notes for details.
Participation in the 12 months prior to survey; persons aged 15 to 74 years.
Persons aged 65-74 years permanently not intending to work, and all respondents who were permanently unable to work, were not asked about work-related training and are included as not participating.
Data from 2016-17 has been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Source(s): Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005 and Work-Related Training and Adult Learning, Australia, 2013 and 2016-17

People who have completed a formal non-school qualification participated in more work-related training than people who had not (28.0% compared with 11.8%). Furthermore, people with higher level qualifications were generally more likely to participate in work-related training when compared with those with lower level qualifications. Of those people whose highest qualification was a Bachelor Degree, one in three (33.1%) had participated in work-related training, compared with less than one in eight (11.8%) whose highest non-school qualification was a Certificate I or II. Participation across all levels of highest non-school qualification has decreased significantly since 2005.

Graph 5 - Participation in work-related training by non-school qualification, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)
	2005 (%)	2013 (%)	2016-17 (%)
No Non-school qualifications	23.5	16	11.8
Certificate not further defined	35.8	31.2	22.5
Certificate I and II	32.7	21.8	11.8
Certificate III and IV	40.2	29.1	22.2
Advanced diploma and diploma	47.2	34	27.5
Bachelor degree	54.7	41.1	33.1
Graduate diploma and graduate certificate	66.8	51.7	37.8
Postgraduate degree	60.1	43.3	34.7

Graph 5 - Participation in work-related training by non-school qualification, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)

["","2005","2013","2016-17"]

[["No Non-school qualifications","Certificate not further defined","Certificate I and II","Certificate III and IV","Advanced diploma and diploma","Bachelor degree","Graduate diploma and graduate certificate","Postgraduate degree"],[[23.5],[35.799999999999997],[32.700000000000003],[40.200000000000003],[47.200000000000003],[54.700000000000003],[66.799999999999997],[60.100000000000001]],[[16],[31.199999999999999],[21.800000000000001],[29.100000000000001],[34],[41.100000000000001],[51.700000000000003],[43.299999999999997]],[[11.800000000000001],[22.5],[11.800000000000001],[22.199999999999999],[27.5],[33.100000000000001],[37.799999999999997],[34.700000000000003]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"%","precision":"","table_units":"(%)","tooltip_units":"(%)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

There were changes in collection methods between the surveys in 2005, 2013 and 2016-17. See the Explanatory notes for details.
Participation in the 12 months prior to survey; persons aged 15 to 74 years.
Persons aged 65-74 years permanently not intending to work, and all respondents who were permanently unable to work, were not asked about work-related training and are included as not participating.
Data from 2016-17 has been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Source(s): Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005 and Work-Related Training and Adult Learning, Australia, 2013 and 2016-17

Participation in work related training has decreased across all fields of study since 2005. More recently, however, training participation has increased since 2013 for those with Education and Health qualifications.

Graph 6 - Participation in work-related training by field of non-school qualification, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)
	2005 (%)	2013 (%)	2016-17 (%)
Food, Hospitality and Personal Services	32.7	28.8	19.1
Creative Arts	37.7	23.9	20.3
Society and Culture	52.2	31.3	33.9
Management and Commerce	46.5	34	25.5
Education	60	33.2	42.5
Health	56.3	33.1	39.3
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies	43	20.1	22.3
Architecture and Building	35.7	17.8	15.7
Engineering and Related Technologies	41.3	26.5	24.5
Information Technology	45.8	17.3	22.7
Natural and Physical Sciences	55.5	27.5	24.7

Graph 6 - Participation in work-related training by field of non-school qualification, 2005, 2013 & 2016-17(a)(b)(c)(d)

["","2005","2013","2016-17"]

[["Food, Hospitality and Personal Services","Creative Arts","Society and Culture","Management and Commerce","Education","Health","Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies","Architecture and Building","Engineering and Related Technologies","Information Technology","Natural and Physical Sciences"],[[32.700000000000003],[37.700000000000003],[52.200000000000003],[46.5],[60],[56.299999999999997],[43],[35.700000000000003],[41.299999999999997],[45.799999999999997],[55.5]],[[28.800000000000001],[23.899999999999999],[31.300000000000001],[34],[33.200000000000003],[33.100000000000001],[20.100000000000001],[17.800000000000001],[26.5],[17.300000000000001],[27.5]],[[19.100000000000001],[20.300000000000001],[33.899999999999999],[25.5],[42.5],[39.299999999999997],[22.300000000000001],[15.699999999999999],[24.5],[22.699999999999999],[24.699999999999999]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"%","precision":"","table_units":"(%)","tooltip_units":"(%)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

There were changes in collection methods between the surveys in 2005, 2013 and 2016-17. See the Explanatory notes for details.
Participation in the 12 months prior to survey; persons aged 15 to 74 years.
Persons aged 65-74 years permanently not intending to work, and all respondents who were permanently unable to work, were not asked about work-related training and are included as not participating.
Data from 2016-17 has been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Source(s): Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005 and Work-Related Training and Adult Learning, Australia, 2013 and 2016-17

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Participation in work-related training

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What is work related training?

Participation in work-related training

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