There are new training number figures – just not especially useful national ones.

The estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research reports there were 771 000 students enrolled in publicly funded training in the first half of the year, with TAFE accommodating 56 per cent, private providers 35 per cent and the balance in the community system or in multiple sectors. The total is down on the same period last year – but don’t stress about it. There are data errors and delays in WA, SA and Tasmania, “which may affect comparability.”

In other states, numbers were up, New South Wales (9.5%) in Queensland (5.4%) but they were down in Victoria (6.3 per cent).