The estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research reports a flat-year for training

Total student numbers in publicly funded VET were down 1.9 per cent year on year for 2018, with private providers taking the hit. While TAFE numbers were up a fraction, to 578 000 students, numbers at for-profits were down 5.3 per cent, to 406 000.

The biggest drops by education field were; engineering down 32 000 enrolments to 204 000 and food hospitality and personal services, with 129 000 enrolments in ’17 and 111 000 last year.