"Small, practical actions" needed to retain apprentices

The experiences of more than 12,000 current and former apprentices and trainees across Australia have been captured in a new report from Apprenticeship Support Australia (ASA).

‘The National First Year Experience Report’ was officially launched on Tuesday this week at an event attended by Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles. With apprenticeship and traineeship commencements continuing to decline, ASA hopes its findings will help address factors impacting attrition.

“The message from apprentices and trainees is clear: most want to succeed, but the quality of their early experience matters,” said Apprenticeship Support Australia Chief Executive Lee Xavier. “This report shows where support is working, where it is falling short and what needs to change.”

One encouraging finding was that three in four apprentices want to stay; that is, about 76% of current Australian apprentices had not considered leaving, showing most are motivated to complete and many employers are providing the foundations for a positive apprenticeship experience.

Mental health pressures, however, sharply increase the risk of attrition, with apprentices who are experiencing sadness, anxiety or worry 65% more likely to consider leaving. Cost-of-living pressures are also hitting apprentices hard: 55% reported being quite or extremely affected, rising to 58% among apprentices living with disability and 60% among First Nations Australian Apprentices.

“This report challenges the idea that apprentices drop out because they lack commitment. Most apprentices and trainees want to stay, learn and build a career. The challenge is making sure the right support is wrapped around them in that critical first year, so that intention turns into completion,” Xavier said.

Another factor influencing apprentices was career advice at school, which was found to be inconsistent. Only 49% of respondents said they received good information about all career pathway options, and those who received balanced advice reported better mental health outcomes once in their apprenticeship or traineeship.

Organisation size plays an important role in the apprentice experience, with apprentices in smaller workplaces often benefiting from closer supervision. However, retention risk rises when employers lack the time, systems or mentoring capacity to identify and address issues early. Supportive workplaces are one of the strongest protections against drop-out — apprentices who felt cared for and supported at work were 28% less likely to consider leaving.

Xavier said the research provides a clear evidence base for where support should be targeted. “Strengthening first-year mentoring, improving the alignment between work and formal training, ensuring apprentices can access early wellbeing support, and giving young people better career advice before they start are practical steps that can improve retention.

“Employers play a critical role in whether an apprentice stays and succeeds. Most employers are doing a good job, but there is an opportunity to improve consistency,” Xavier added.

“The report shows that small, practical actions, such as regular check-ins, clear expectations, structured mentoring and a workplace where apprentices feel comfortable raising concerns, can make a real difference.”

Image credit: iStock.com/simonkr