Apprenticeship retention still an issue

Federal skills minister Chris Evans has met with mechanics-in-the-making on a day when new figures show more and more Australians are applying for apprenticeships.

National Centre for Vocational Education Research data released on Tuesday showed there were 440,700 apprentices and trainees at the end of 2010, an increase of 6.3 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Training commencements increased by 15.7 per cent and completions by 5.4 per cent but course cancellations and withdrawals were also up by 6.7 per cent on 2009 figures.

Senator Evans, touring a car dealership in Canberra on Tuesday, admitted completion rates were still problematic.

"What the government focused on in the budget is to try and increase the number of apprentices and increase the retention of apprentices," he told reporters.

"It's vital for Australia's skills needs that we have people with good trade skills. There's huge demand for (them)."

Senator Evans was originally meant to visit the car yard with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, however she pulled out of the engagement at the last minute in order to be briefed on the death of another Australian soldier in Afghanistan.