Releases 24 Sept 2009

Author: Paul Mahoney, Ministry of Education

Author

Paul Mahoney, Ministry of Education

Training Opportunities Statistical Profile 1999 to 2007

(:Description The Ministry has released a new report on the Training Opportunities programme:)

Training Opportunities Statistical Profile 1999 to 2007

This report provides participation and labour market outcome analysis of the Training Opportunities programme between 1999 and 2007, using the Training Opportunities administrative dataset. This is the first time this information has been made available in a single analysis.

It shows that Training Opportunities participants are most likely to be Māori, aged 29 years or younger; be based in Auckland; have low or no qualifications, and be considered at risk of long-term unemployment. They are most likely to attend training provided by a private training establishment, and to be placed in programmes consisting of standards at levels 1 and 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.

The majority of learners participate in Training Opportunities for a total of sixteen weeks or less per placement, and attain about 10 credits per placement. Many learners have several Training Opportunities placements, so the average credit attainment per distinct learner is approximately 22 credits.

The data records the destinations of learners two months after leaving Training Opportunities. Full-time employment is recorded as the destination activity in the largest group of placements (31 percent), followed by a return placement (26 percent) and unemployment (23 percent).

The report shows how the programme has responded to changes in the labour market over time. Highly favourable labour market conditions before 2008 has led to a reduction in the traditional Training Opportunities client base: people who have experienced long spells of unemployment. A widening of eligibility criteria in 2002 to people at risk of being unemployed has led to this group outnumbering the long-term unemployed among trainees. While placement numbers have reduced overall, placements are increasing in duration, and learners are now more likely to be engaging in multiple placements. Over time the proportion of learners going on to full-time employment two months after leaving placements has also declined.

Training Opportunities may have an important part to play in the response to the current economic crisis, and this analysis discusses how the programme could provide a response that suits the prevailing labour market needs.