Apprentice and trainee starts were down, again in the September quarter.  The estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research reports news that isn’t good and news that isn’t good at all. Year on year totals in September were down by 0.6 per cent. But third quarter starts in 2018 were down 5 per cent on third quarter 2017. Completions were also down in September, as the result of previous year declines flowed through.

Big drops in third quarter ’18 starts were in technician and trade starts, down 14 per cent and construction, which were down 11 per cent.