Government-funded students increased by 4.5% to 1.4 million in 2021 when compared with 2020\u2019s numbers.<\/p>\n

Just over 3500 (actually 3529) registered training organisations (RTOs) delivered nationally recognised VET, and \u201can estimated 24% of the Australian resident population aged 15 to 64 years participated in this training.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comparing the 2021 data from that in 2020 showed that \u201cfull-year training equivalents (FYTEs) increased by 12% to 1.1 million.\u201d In addition, \u201cstudents enrolled in nationally recognised programs increased by 4.4% to 2.1 million.\u201d<\/p>\n

In terms of those courses offered through fee for service, domestic numbers increased by about 13% to 3.2 million while – as expected due to the pandemic – international fee-for-service students decreased by 4.3% to 213 000.<\/p>\n

Provider type also tells a story with 3.2 million students (about 74%) enrolled at private training providers, about 18% at TAFE institutes, 10.5% at community education providers, around 2 to 2.7% enrolled in other provider types: schools (2.7%), 2.5% at enterprise providers and 1.8% at universities. Historical data from 2017 are also provided, showing that all provider types had reduced in their numbers from a total of nearly 3950 in 2017 to the reported number of 3529 in 2021.<\/p>\n

In terms of qualifications undertaken in 2021:<\/p>\n

\u201cthere were 2.8 million enrolments in nationally recognised programs. 92.6% of these were in qualifications: 86.1% in training package qualifications and 6.5% in accredited qualifications. Compared with 2020, training package qualifications increased by 6.3% to 2 385 400, accredited qualifications increased by 6.6% to 181 300, training package skill sets [interestingly] decreased by 24.3% to 91 600 and accredited courses increased by 10.4% to 113 100.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, \u201cmanagement and commerce was the most popular field of education, comprising 21.7% of all qualification enrolments. This was followed by Society and culture (19.7%) and Engineering and related technologies (16.0%).\u201d \u2018Food, hospitality and personal services\u2019 and architecture and building\u2019 both ran in at around the 8.5% level.<\/p>\n

Finally, \u201cthe highest number of qualification enrolments were in Certificate III level qualifications (39.4%), followed by Certificate IV (20.0%), and Certificate II (18.8%).\u201d<\/p>\n