New Zealand's workplace-based learners
An overview of workplace-based learning trends for the year ended December 2023.
Workplace-based learning trends
New Zealand’s Workplace-Based Learners gives an overview of workplace-based learning trends for the year ended December 2023. It focuses on workplace-based learning previously known as industry training and covers the characteristics of learners, the industries they learn in, and what they achieve. It also contains a short overview of Gateway and trades academies.
This information shows performance in workplace-based learning, regardless of whether training-related activity was funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). As such, these measures may differ to those published by the TEC.
On this page:
- Types of workplace-based learners
- What does the 2023 data show?
- Who participates? Gender, age group, ethnicity, prior qualifications.
- What industries do they participate in?
- What training activity did learners undertake?
- What qualifications did they achieve?
- How many school students took part in Gateway and Trades Academies?
- Technical Notes | Background
Types of workplace-based learners
There are two types of workplace-based learners. These are:
a) Apprentices
Apprentices are workplace-based learners who do substantial training programmes at Levels 4 or above. Apprenticeships provide opportunities for learners to establish careers in new occupations. Apprenticeships include New Zealand Apprenticeship programmes, and programmes at equivalent levels and credit loads, as well as the remaining Modern Apprenticeship programmes.
b) Trainees
Trainees are workplace-based learners who do short programmes, often at lower levels. Traineeships often cater for established workers and employers who need supplementary skills for their workers to help them continue to adapt to changing technologies and other working conditions. Traineeships are also used to train new employees.
We report statistics separately on a) apprentices and b) trainees.
We also report on senior secondary school students in workplace training through Gateway and trades academies. These are secondary-tertiary programmes that provide access to trades or technology learning opportunities as part of the Youth Guarantee programme.
What does the 2023 data show?
The data for the 12 months to December 2023 shows:
- The number of trainees and apprentices decreased in 2023. Overall, the total number of workplace-based learners decreased by 12 percent to 139,120 learners. This follows on from 2022, which at 158,650, had the highest total participation since 2010.
- Between 2020 and 2022, the workplace-based training system had the potential to be strongly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand. Two main initiatives were deployed to support skills training in workplaces in 2020. These were Apprenticeship Boost, designed to support new (Year 1 and Year 2) apprentices by providing subsidies to employers, and the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF), which provided fee support to apprentices, and trainees at Level 3 or higher in targeted study fields. TTAF finished at the end of 2022, and Apprenticeship Boost continued throughout 2023.
- In 2023, the number of trainees decreased by 17 percent to 62,455, while the number of apprentices decreased by 8.1 percent to 77,490. Apprentices have outnumbered trainees since 2021.
- The decrease in the number of apprentices in 2023 (8.1 percent) came after two years of large increases in 2020 and 2021 (of 16 percent and 27 percent respectively) and a relatively smaller but significant increase (of 7.4 percent) in 2022. There was a large decline in the number of new entrant apprentices in 2023 (of 35 percent), combined with a slight increase (of 0.8 percent) in the number of apprentices continuing training from previous years led to an overall decrease in 2023.
- The number of trainees completing qualifications decreased, as did the three-year completion rate. In 2023, 20,680 trainees completed a qualification, down 12 percent on 2022. The proportion of trainees completing a qualification within three years of starting study decreased by 3 percentage points to 51 percent.
- The number of apprentices completing qualifications decreased, while the apprentice five-year completion rate was steady. In 2023, 12,940 apprentices completed a qualification, a decrease of 1.9 percent on 2022. However, the five-year qualification completion rate for apprentices remained at 47 percent.
Who participates? Gender, age group, ethnicity, prior qualifications
The overall number of trainees and apprentices in 2023 was 139,120, a decrease of 12 percent from 2022 (by 19,530 learners). The number of trainees decreased by 17 percent (to 62,455), while apprentices decreased by 8.1 percent (to 77,490). This represents a significant decline in learners from the numbers seen in 2022, which had the highest total workplace-based learning participation since 2010. Apprentices outnumbered trainees in 2023, having overtaken trainee numbers for the first time in 2021.
There was an overall decrease in trainees from 2022. A 30 percent decrease in new entrant trainees (8,825 fewer new trainees) was accompanied by a 9.4 percent decrease in the number of trainees continuing from the previous year (4,350 fewer continuing trainees). The number of continuing trainees who left training during the year due to completion or withdrawal increased by 4.5 percent. The amount of training delivered to trainees (measured in Equivalent Full-Time Learners, or EFTLs) was 21 percent lower than in 2022 (see table 1).
The overall decrease (8.1 percent) in the number of apprentices in 2023 was made up of a decline in new entrant apprentices (7,280 fewer but still a relatively normal pre-COVID19 number at 13,505 entrants), and a 0.8 percent increase in the number of apprentices continuing from the previous year (485 more continuing apprentices). There was a 17 percent increase in the number of continuing apprentices who left training during the year, either through completion or withdrawal. The amount of training delivered to apprentices (measured in EFTLs) decreased by 8 percent.
In 2023, 45 percent of trainees were women (see figure 1). The proportion of the workforce participating as trainees decreased to 2.1 percent in 2023. The male trainee participation rate decreased (to 2.2 percent of the male workforce, from 2.9 percent in 2022) while there was a decrease in the female trainee participation rate to 2.0 percent of the female workforce (from 2.4 percent).
The proportion of the workforce who were apprentices decreased to 2.6 percent (from 3.0 percent). Participation rates for male apprentices decreased, to 4.2 percent for males (from 4.6 percent) and by a slight 0.1 percentage point decrease for females (to 1.0 percent). In 2023, 17 percent of apprentices were women, a slight decrease from 18 percent in 2022 (see figure 2).
Year | Total | Learners | Proportion | Proportion of the workforce who are trainees (%) | Delivered | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Female | Male | Female | Total | ||||
2018 | 87,975 | 45,750 | 41,950 | 48 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 23,310 |
2019 | 84,495 | 43,445 | 40,855 | 48 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 22,050 |
2020 | 76,660 | 39,770 | 36,735 | 48 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 18,830 |
2021 | 74,330 | 40,255 | 33,925 | 46 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 18,925 |
2022 | 75,630 | 42,980 | 32,305 | 43 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 19,740 |
2023 | 62,455 | 34,165 | 28,095 | 45 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 15,505 |
Year | Total | Learners | Proportion | Proportion of the workforce who are apprentices (%) | Delivered | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Female | Male | Female | Total | ||||
2018 | 50,460 | 43,690 | 6,700 | 13 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 21,430 |
2019 | 53,530 | 46,150 | 7,295 | 14 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 22,785 |
2020 | 61,850 | 52,775 | 8,905 | 14 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 24,360 |
2021 | 78,445 | 64,930 | 13,280 | 17 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 33,010 |
2022 | 84,280 | 68,950 | 15,095 | 18 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 35,945 |
2023 | 77,490 | 64,090 | 13,225 | 17 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 33,060 |
Figure 1: Trainee counts by gender and as a proportion of the total workforce, 2014-2023
Figure 2: Apprentice counts by gender, and as a proportion of the total workforce, 2014-2023
Age group
The age distribution of trainees in 2023 was similar to that in 2022 with 41 percent of trainees being under 30 years (from 40 percent), and 33 percent of trainees aged 40 years or older (from 34 percent), representing a slight shift to younger learners.
The longer-term trend towards older apprentices paused in 2023, as the proportion of apprentices aged under 30 years increased to 62 percent (up from 61 percent in 2022 and 70 percent in 2016). The proportion of apprentices aged 40 years or older decreased from 16 percent in 2022 to 15 percent.
Ethnicity
Figures 3 and 4 show the proportions of the workforce that were trainees or apprentices, categorised by ethnicity. Trainee participation as a percentage of the workforce declined fairly evenly for all trainees in 2023. Workforce participation rates for Māori and Pacific Peoples trainees remained higher than for other groups.
Participation rates for apprentices decreased evenly across all ethnic groups. Participation continues to be highest for apprentices of Māori or Pacific Peoples ethnicity.
Figure 3: Proportion of the workforce undertaking traineeships by ethnicity, 2018-2023
Figure 4: Proportion of the workforce undertaking apprenticeships by ethnicity, 2018-2023
Prior qualifications
A high proportion of workplace-based learners hold tertiary qualifications gained prior to starting training. Overall in 2023, 59 percent of trainees (down from 62 percent in 2022) and 45 percent of apprentices (down from 47 percent) already held a tertiary certificate, diploma, or degree (bachelors or above).
What industries do they participate in?
The industries with the most trainees in 2023 were: healthcare and social assistance (19 percent of trainees or 11,740 learners), manufacturing (13 percent or 8,130 learners), and accommodation and food services (11 percent or 6,995 learners).
The construction industry hosted the highest number of apprentices (49 percent or 37,600 learners), followed by retail (12 percent or 8,970 learners), and manufacturing (9.7 percent or 7,485 learners) (see figure 5).
Figure 5: Distribution of trainees and apprentices by industry 2023
Figure 6 shows, for each gender, the proportion of the workforce undertaking an apprenticeship in the three industries with the greatest numbers of apprentices across the years 2018 to 2023. Female workers have much lower rates of participation in apprenticeships. For example, in 2023, 14 percent of men working in construction were apprentices compared to 3.8 percent of women. Overall, 4.2 percent of the male workforce were apprentices compared to 1.0 percent of the female workforce.
Figure 6: Proportion of the workforce undertaking apprenticeships by gender 2018-2023, selected industries
What training activity did learners undertake?
The number of trainees who entered training in 2023 decreased by 30 percent on the previous year to 20,295 new entrants (see Technical Notes for an explanation of the Training activity categories). The proportion of all trainees who were new entrants decreased to 32 percent, from 39 percent in 2022. Among all trainees (both new and continuing), the proportion that completed training increased from 36 percent to 40 percent, and the proportion withdrawing from training also increased to 23 percent, up from 19 percent in 2022 (see figure 7).
The proportion of apprentices who were new entrants in 2023 decreased to 17 percent (or 13,505 apprentices), from 25 percent in 2022. The proportion of all apprentices withdrawing (without completion) increased to 21 percent, from 17 percent in 2022, while the proportion that completed training increased to 16 percent (see figure 8).
Figure 7: Proportion of trainees by main activity 2014-2023
Figure 8: Proportion of apprentices by main activity 2014-2023
What qualifications did they achieve?
The number of trainees that completed a qualification decreased 12 percent (to 20,680), and a total of 21,225 qualifications were awarded to trainees (down from 24,205 in 2022).
As in 2022, over 80 percent of qualifications achieved by trainees were at Level 3 or higher, reflecting the continued longer-term decrease in training at Level 2 (Level 1 training was removed in 2019).
A total of 12,940 apprentices completed a qualification in 2023, a decrease of 1.9 percent compared to 2022, and 13,910 qualifications were awarded to apprentices in 2023.
The proportion of trainees completing a qualification within three years of commencement decreased to 51 percent in 2023, from 54 percent in 2022 (see figure 9). For apprentices, the five-year qualification completion rate was steady at 47 percent in 2023, but representing a decline from the high of 58 percent in 2019 (see figure 10).
Figure 9: Three-year trainee qualification completion rates 2018-2023
Figure 10: Five-year apprentice qualification completion rates 2018-2023
How many school students took part in Gateway and Trades Academies?
Gateway and trades academies, part of the government’s Youth Guarantee programme, aim to assist school students to gain employment or further training. Learners can earn credits that can contribute towards the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and other qualifications on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
Gateway
The number of learners accessing Gateway programmes in 2023 (15,005 students) was higher (by 4.4 percent) than in 2022. Gateway students achieved 338,605 credits in 2023, an average of 23 per student. This is the same as the average achieved in 2022 but is generally lower than in the period 2015 to 2019.
Trades Academies
The number of students that participated in trades academies (utilising an unchanged level of funded places) increased by 190 in 2023 to 11,585 students.
Technical Notes | Background
Forms of workplaces-based learning:
There are two main forms of workplace-based learning. These are traineeships and apprenticeships, both administered by Te Pūkenga subsidiaries and other organisations under the Education and Training Act 2020.
Traineeships are workplace-based training programmes that do not meet the New Zealand Apprenticeships credit (120 or more credits) and level (at least Level 4) criteria. Trainees are often involved in smaller programmes, at lower qualification levels, that suit established workers wanting to update or increase their skills.
Apprenticeships:
Apprenticeships include: New Zealand Apprenticeships (introduced in 2014); Modern Apprenticeships; and industry training apprenticeship equivalents (study programmes that meet or exceed the New Zealand Apprenticeships criteria, i.e. qualifications at Level 4 or above, consisting of at least 120 credits).
Organisations:
Under the vocational education reforms all remaining transitional industry training organisations (TITOs) operating in 2022 were re-established as either Te Pūkenga subsidiaries or as private training establishments (PTEs).
Data Sources:
Most of the statistics on this page are derived from returns provided by government-funded tertiary education organisations to the Tertiary Education Commission. This data may differ from that reported by the Tertiary Education Commission because the Ministry of Education’s figures are based on all workplace-based enrolments. The Ministry of Education’s figures show counts of both funded and unfunded trainees and apprentices. Data may also be different to that published in previous years because tertiary education providers can submit updates to historical data. Denominator workforce numbers for participation rate calculations were estimated using the Household Labour Force Survey.
Rounding:
Data has been rounded to the nearest 5 to protect the privacy of individuals, so the sum of individual counts may not add to the total. Percentages are calculated using unrounded numbers.
Equivalent Fulltime Learner:
An equivalent fulltime learner (EFTL) is a unit or a quantity of training. One EFTL is the nominal amount of training that is required for a learner to achieve 120 credits (or its equivalent) in an approved and structured training programme. One credit equals 10 nominal hours of instruction and study. One EFTL comprises 120 credits, or 1,200 nominal hours, of instruction and study.
Ethnicity:
Learners may report multiple ethnicities and so may be counted in more than one ethnic group. The acronym MELAA refers to Middle Eastern/ Latin American/African.
Prior Qualifications:
The results reported are estimates based on the distribution of trainees and apprentices whose previous highest qualification was known. For 2023, previous qualification was known for 92 percent of trainees and 96 percent of apprentices.
Training activity:
Six categories are used to classify learners’ training activity. Firstly, learners are classified as either continuing (from a previous year) or entrant (enrolling for the first time in the reference year). Secondly, these groups are split according to their exit activities. Thus, the ‘Continuing training’ category includes only those learners who are continuing their training and who do not leave in the reference year. The ‘Exit & completion’ and ‘Exit & withdrawn’ categories are used for learners who are continuing their training, but who leave in the reference year. Similarly, the ‘Entry’ category does not include new entrants who complete or withdraw from training in the reference year, since these learners are classified in the ‘Entry & completion’ or ‘Entry & withdrawn’ categories.