Australian apprentices and trainees bore the brunt of the recent economic downturn according to a survey conducted by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

The Apprentice and Trainee Destinations Survey 2010 revealed that in the period since the downturn, 26.8% of trade apprentices did not complete training due to redundancy compared to 8.9% in 2008.

The results, revealed last week, reflect poorly on the manufacturing sector’s commitment to training according to AMWU National Secretary Dave Oliver.  

“If we want a skilled nation we need to remain committed to training our young people.

“Too often during tough financial times apprentices and trainees are the first to go.”

The survey result was just as devastating for non-trade apprentices and trainees. Since 2008 those made redundant doubled from 7.8% in 2008 to 15.2%.

Apprentice automotive workers were the hardest hit with 30.2% citing job loss or redundancy as the main reason for leaving an apprenticeship or traineeship. 

The results come days after a $219 million Federal Government funding announcement for the latest round of projects in the Training Centres in Schools Program.

The program, created to address Australia’s well publicised skills shortage promised to improve trade training programs in secondary schools, was universally backed when established in 2008.

Despite its promise, Mr Oliver says the survey is proof that apprentices have become increasingly vulnerable in the wake of the global financial crisis.

“Instead of investing in the next generation of workers, companies adopt the slash and burn approach.

“The Federal Government’s investment in skills and training will be lost if companies make cuts at the rate they have.”