Is VET vocational?: the relevance of training to the occupations of vocational education and training graduates

Vocational education and training (VET) is, by definition, vocational in intent. It is about acquiring skills to be used at work. The issue explored in this report is how VET is actually used in the labour market, in particular the match between what people study and the jobs they get. If the match is very good, then it can be concluded that the VET system is performing its role in providing individuals with vocational skills. If the match is poor, then the effectiveness of the VET system needs to be reviewed. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) Student Outcomes...  [+] Show more

Vocational education and training (VET) is, by definition, vocational in intent. It is about acquiring skills to be used at work. The issue explored in this report is how VET is actually used in the labour market, in particular the match between what people study and the jobs they get. If the match is very good, then it can be concluded that the VET system is performing its role in providing individuals with vocational skills. If the match is poor, then the effectiveness of the VET system needs to be reviewed. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) Student Outcomes Survey provided a mapping between the intended occupation of training activity and the occupation after training, with the intended occupation derived from the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) assigned to training package qualifications. The study sample was restricted to graduates, that is, those people who have completed a qualification. The study found that the match was pretty poor in most occupational groups, technicians and trades workers being the exception rather than the rule. In order to understand the mismatch the study looked at the changes in skill level for graduates not employed in their intended occupation. However, the report asks whether the low level of matching in the majority of occupations meant a waste of training, or whether the training was being used as a generic preparation. While the conclusion is that the mismatch reflects the generic nature of VET rather than wastage, this is an overall conclusion not a universal one. There are clear examples of wastage in the sector, where graduates do not end up in jobs where the training is relevant. This must be of concern to planners and to potential students.