The vast majority of students who undertake TAFE study achieve their employment goals, including finding new jobs in industries battling skills shortages, according to a new report.
The report by Nous Group revealed that 91 per cent of TAFE students achieve their employment goals, such as getting a new job or a promotion.
That figure climbs as high as 94 per cent for regional TAFE students, demonstrating that going to TAFE is a ticket to getting a job.
The findings come as employers across construction, health and clean energy sectors continue to report serious skilled workforce demands. Victoria is forecast to need an additional 1.4 million workers by 2034. Meeting this demand will require large‑scale reskilling and upskilling of the existing workforce, as well as training new workers, to sustain economic growth.
Among priority sectors, clean economy and advanced manufacturing and defence show the strongest results, with 94 per cent and 93 per cent of students achieving their employment goals.
VTA Chief Executive Officer Alex White said the report, Employment outcomes for Victorian TAFE learners, highlighted the importance of the TAFE sector in delivering skilled workers into the labour market at a time of critical need for the state’s economy.
“At a time when our community needs more high wage, secure jobs, this data confirms that TAFE is a pathway to getting a job and getting ahead in a tough economy,” he said.
“Student outcomes are strongest in the areas where Victoria needs more skilled workers, such as construction, health and the clean economy sectors, which will directly feed into housing delivery, healthcare capacity and the energy transition.”
The analysis also reveals strong employment outcomes for groups that are critical to workforce participation and long‑term economic inclusion:
- 94 per cent of regional students studying for employment reasons achieved or partly achieved their employment goal, outperforming the state average.
- Approximately nine in ten Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students achieved their employment goal.
- Up to 91 per cent of students from disadvantaged, CALD and disability cohorts achieved their employment goals, demonstrating strong workforce outcomes, even among students more likely to face disrupted study pathways.
According to the report, employment-related outcomes remain strong regardless of whether students complete their course, challenging the idea that course completion alone is an adequate measure of success.
Report lead author Zac Ashkanasy from Nous said the new data challenged the old, traditional measures of success that no longer reflected how learners or employers engage with the skills system.
“Victorian TAFEs do deliver real value for entry level and working learners, employers and the broader economy,” he said.
“Importantly, strong employment outcomes are evident even where students do not complete full qualifications.”
Four in five TAFE students are studying for employment‑related reasons.
Mr White said the results underscored the importance of evaluating TAFE vocational outcomes by considering real-world outcomes.
“When people go to TAFE to get a job or a promotion, they are virtually guaranteed to achieve their goal. That’s a win for them, for employers and for the broader economy,” he said.
“This new data shows TAFE is doing what it is meant to do: helping people get the skills they need to get a job and advance their career in an in-demand industry.
“If we are serious about addressing skills shortages, rising unemployment, and cost‑of‑living pressures, our public TAFE Network needs additional infrastructure in growth corridors and tens of thousands more funded places.