Number of vocational training positions

The Pilbara has seen an increase of apprenticeships and traineeships commenced and completed between 2001 to 2008. 

The increase in apprenticeships completed is directly related to the increase of apprenticeships commenced however there will be a delay affect of three to four years depending on the type of apprenticeship. The increase of completed apprenticeships between 2005 and 2007 is attributed to the increase of commenced apprenticeships between 2001 and 2003 and so on.

Traineeships have become increasingly popular in the Pilbara especially since 2003. Most traineeships will normally last one year. Between 2001 and 2008 there were less than 50% of traineeships completed compared to the number commenced.

Across the Pilbara the major apprentice trades rose from 2002 to 2008, with 2007 seeing only a small decrease from the year before. The metals, manufacturing and services trade has seen more apprentices commence than any other apprenticeship. The small difference between the major trades listed and the total apprenticeships commenced include other industries such as food, hospitality and tourism.

Pilbara offers many different fields for students to undertake a traineeship. The most popular field is finance, property & business services which had 28% of all enrolments, followed by the mining industry with 15% between 2001 & 2008. Total enrolments peaked in 2005, however preceded by a steady decrease the following 2 years before in 2008 returning to higher numbers. The large difference in 2001 came from over 50 enrolments in public administration; however this course has not had enrolments in any of the following years in the Pilbara.

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Number of ‘English as a Second Language’ students enrolled

The number of enrolments in Adult Literacy and English as a Second Language courses decreased from 2003 to 2005, peaked in 2006 and then dropped the following two years. Course numbers are for the Mixed Field Programmes, which include general education programs, social skills programs, employment skills programs, and other mixed field programs. Statistics are divided into Non English Speaking Background (NESB) students and Indigenous students which accounted for over 82% of enrolments in 2008.