Are students getting the right training for the right jobs? Here’s what the latest data says:
At SaCSA, we’re committed to ensuring vocational education and training (VET) remains aligned with real-world industry needs. But how well is the system actually preparing students for the workforce?
Our recent collaboration with the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) on the Student Outcomes Survey gives us deeper insights into where students land after completing their training—and how their studies translate into jobs.
The 2023 survey results highlight key outcomes for students, including employment outcomes, across the Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism, and Hospitality sectors and related training packages.
What the Data Tells Us
The survey captured students who completed or left their training in 2022, offering a snapshot of where graduates are finding employment within SaCSA’s sectors. Here’s what we found:
- Creative Arts & Culture (CUA): many graduates were working in retail and hospitality roles, with 21% employed as Sales Assistants, followed by Waiters (7%) and Fast-food cooks (6%).
- Tourism, Travel & Hospitality (SIT): 17% of graduates were working as Chefs, a key occupation for this sector given skills shortages in this area, followed by Sales Assistants (14%) and Waiters (7%).
- Retail Services (SIR): 24% of students were employed as Sales Assistants, adding to the pipeline of retail talent from training, followed by Pharmacy Sales Assistants (13%) and Retail Supervisors (8%).
- Hairdressing & Beauty (SHB): 25% of students were working as Hairdressers, with another 20% as Beauty Therapists— in line with some of the key occupations in this sector.
- Floristry (SFL): Encouragingly, 40% of graduates are working as Florists, in line with industry needs, followed by Sales Assistants (12%).
Why This Matters
These insights help us assess whether vocational training is meeting industry needs and providing students with meaningful employment opportunities. The data also highlights areas where training pathways can be further explored to better support career progression.
At SaCSA, we’ll continue working closely with industry stakeholders to ensure VET qualifications remain relevant, future-focused, and valuable for both students and employers.
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into these findings in our upcoming research and projects.
Author:
Laze Pejoski, Director of Insights and Planning at SaCSA, provides data-driven insights to help shape labour market strategies, migration settings, and related policy frameworks for Australia’s evolving workforce.
Shaer Fattah, Insights and Analytics Manager at SaCSA, leverages over a decade of experience in labour market analytics to develop and implement robust research methods that inform workforce policies.