Skills development in Australian firms: The role of apprenticeships and traineeships

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of apprenticeships and traineeships in meeting the skills requirements of some employers and their broader interactions with the vocational education and training (VET) and higher education systems in the State of Victoria in Australia. It is based on a broader study of how Victorian employers determine their skills requirements and how they meet those needs. The research involved qualitative case studies of five Victorian employers. It concludes that there is considerable scope for the further development of apprenticeships and traineeships as part of employer responses to changing skills needs.