Australia reports rise in trade apprenticeship completions, skills gap

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) released its 2025 report showing that the six‑year completion rate for trade apprentices who began training in 2019 rose to 58.7 percent, continuing an upward trend that started with the 2015 cohort. While overall VET enrolments fell by more than five percent, construction‑related fields bucked the decline: architecture and building added almost 14,000 students, and qualifications in construction, plumbing, services and electrotechnology also posted gains.

Industry groups welcomed the improvement but warned the gains are far short of the workforce needed for Australia’s housing programme. The Housing Industry Association (HIA) estimates an additional 83,000 skilled tradespeople are required to meet targets such as the National Housing Accord’s goal of 1.2 million new homes. HIA Executive Director Mike Hermon and NCVER Managing Director John King said higher completion rates are encouraging, yet the sector continues to face a significant skills shortfall.