ECEC workforce among beneficiaries as apprenticeship growth surges in South Australia

South Australia’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is poised to benefit from a significant increase in apprenticeships and traineeships across government-prioritised fields, according to new national data released last week.

Figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) show that more than two-thirds (68.6%) of apprentices and trainees in training are now enrolled in courses aligned to South Australian Government priority areas including education, care, and other high-demand sectors such as construction, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.

As of December 2024, 22,470 South Australians were undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships, an increase of 33.5% since 2019. Of those, 15,420 were in government-priority fields, up nearly 60% from 2019.

While much attention has been given to trade and infrastructure-related growth, the ECEC sector has also been named among the key areas experiencing a rise in completions, particularly at the Certificate III and Diploma levels.

Skills Commissioner Cameron Baker noted the critical importance of a well-supported early learning workforce.

The Early Childhood Education and Care sector is also set to benefit from rising completions in both the Certificate III and Diploma qualifications, strengthening a vital workforce,” said Commissioner Baker.

The data arrives as the Malinauskas Labor Government and its federal counterpart continue to invest heavily in vocational education, including a record $1.44 billion from the state and $880 million from the Australian Government under the National Skills Agreement.

Skills and Training Minister Blair Boyer said the figures show South Australia is building apprenticeship growth where it matters most.

“We’re investing in the people and professions our state is crying out for including early learning, where strong foundational skills are critical not just for children, but for the workforce supporting them,” Minister Boyer.

Completions in priority area qualifications rose by 12.5% in 2024 compared to the previous year, with a total of 3,415 completions, representing 57.9% of all completions an 82.8% increase from 2019.

As part of a national strategy to address skills shortages, Minister Boyer also announced the development of a new Future Apprenticeships Workplan, to be finalised later this year in collaboration with Skills Ministers across Australia.

For the ECEC sector, the findings reaffirm the value of accessible, supported vocational training pathways helping to attract, train and retain a workforce capable of meeting growing demand and delivering quality early learning outcomes for all children.