Strong and Responsive VET Pathways

This latest data release from VNDA tracks students’ progression to further education and changes to their income, employment and reliance on income support, both before and after training. The report summarises the national level outcomes for domestic, non-school students, who completed a nationally recognised qualification in the 2019-20 year. Analysis is focused on priority cohorts (female graduates, First Nations graduates, and graduates with disability), and a range of different student types, including age group, location and prior employment status of graduates.

Improved income after training

In the year following completion, Vocational Education and Training (VET) graduates had a median income uplift of $11,800 and earned a median employee income of $48,500. 

• First Nations graduates attained a median income uplift of $13,000 and earned a median income of $43,100.
• Female graduates attained a median income uplift of $11,400 and earned a median income of $41,900.
• Graduates with disability attained a median income uplift of $9,100 and earned a median income of $26,100. 

Improved employment rate after training

Nationally, 84% of VET graduates were employed after completing their VET qualification, representing a 15 percentage point increase from before enrolment. 

• First Nations graduates had a 16 percentage point increase in employment, reaching an employment rate of 79% after completion.
• Female graduates had a 17 percentage point increase in employment, reaching an employment rate of 83% after completion.
• Graduates with disability had a 14 percentage point increase in employment, reaching an employment rate of 65% after completion.

Pathways to higher-level study

Approximately 8% of all VET graduates pursued higher education after completion and 16% enrolled in a higher-level VET qualification than the one completed in 2019-20. 

• 5% of First Nations graduates enrolled in higher education and 20% in higher-level VET.
• 10% of female graduates enrolled in higher education and 18% in higher-level VET.
• 7% of graduates with disability enrolled in higher education and 21% in higher-level VET.

Reduced reliance on income support

Among VET graduates who received income support prior to study, 39% were no longer on income support two years after completion (i.e. income support exit rate).

• First Nations graduates had a 34% income support exit rate.
• Female graduates had a 36% income support exit rate.
• Graduates with disability had a 22% income support exit rate.

Data is available on the student characteristics and outcomes by:

• total cohort (national and state/territory)
• level of qualification (national and state/territory)
• broad field of education for each qualification level (national and state/territory)
• 500 qualifications (national)
• selected student characteristics (national)

Outcomes for students are primarily in the year following qualification completion (2020-21). Outcome statistics are available for:

• Median income – post-completion and change since prior to enrolment
• Employment rate – post-completion and change since prior to enrolment
• Further study – progression to higher-level VET study and higher education post-completion
• Income support – exit rate from income support since prior to enrolment

To accommodate the extensive new data, JSA has developed an interactive dashboard to navigate and explore the data in an easy-to-use format.

The statistics in VNDA are sourced from the Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA) managed by the ABS.

For in-depth information on the analysis methodology, data sources, data definitions and variable construction in the descriptive statistics analysis, please access the technical report.
 

The results of this release are based, in part, on data supplied to the ABS under the Taxation Administration Act 1953, A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999, Australian Border Force Act 2015, Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999, Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 and/or the Student Assistance Act 1973. Such data may only used for the purpose of administering the Census and Statistics Act 1905 or performance of functions of the ABS as set out in section 6 of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975. No individual information collected under the Census and Statistics Act 1905 is provided back to custodians for administrative or regulatory purposes. Any discussion of data limitations or weaknesses is in the context of using the data for statistical purposes and is not related to the ability of the data to support the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Business Register, Department of Social Services and/or Department of Home Affairs’ core operational requirements.

Legislative requirements to ensure privacy and secrecy of these data have been followed. For access to PLIDA and/or BLADE data under Section 16A of the ABS Act 1975 or enabled by section 15 of the Census and Statistics (Information Release and Access) Determination 2018, source data are de-identified and so data about specific individuals has not been viewed in conducting this analysis. In accordance with the Census and Statistics Act 1905, results have been treated where necessary to ensure that they are not likely to enable identification of a particular person or organisation.

JSA welcomes feedback and engagement to help shape the focus of future VNDA analysis.

Please get in touch at VNDA@jobsandskills.gov.au.