The Return on Investment in supporting Australian Apprenticeships

Australia’s apprenticeship system is more than a training pathway—it’s a strategic investment in our future workforce. Whether you’re an employer, policymaker, or training provider, understanding the return on investment (ROI) in apprenticeships is essential to making informed decisions that benefit your business, your community, and the broader economy.

This tool is designed to help you calculate the ROI of employing an apprentice or trainee. It draws on the modelling and assumptions outlined in the comprehensive discussion paper, The Return on Investment in Supporting Australian Apprenticeships. The paper explores the economic and social benefits of apprenticeships across multiple sectors and stakeholder groups—employers, individuals, and government.

What’s Inside the Paper?

  • A clear explanation of what ROI means in the apprenticeship context—and why it matters.
  • A step-by-step guide to identifying costs, tracking performance, and conducting a cost-benefit analysis.
  • Detailed assumptions used in ROI modelling, including productivity estimates, supervision costs, and government subsidies.
  • Five real-world ROI examples:
    1. A 4-year Carpentry Apprenticeship
    2. A 4-year Automotive Apprenticeship (with additional supports)
    3. A 4-year Electrical Apprenticeship (above award rate)
    4. A 2-year Business Administration Traineeship
    5. A 4-year Engineering/Manufacturing Apprenticeship (adult apprentice via GTO)

These examples show how ROI varies by industry, apprentice background, and employment model—giving you a realistic benchmark to compare your own situation.

The Return on Investment in Supporting Australian Apprenticeships Report Cover

Get the full discussion paper to understand the assumptions behind the tool and explore the broader policy and economic context.

Key Messages

Australian Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to improve productivity.  For every $1 spent on supporting apprentices over a 4-year period the employer receives a financial benefit of up to $1.40, and the government and wider community receives a benefit of up to $4.76.

It takes approximately 1.6 to 2.6 years into a 4-year apprenticeship to be financially beneficial to the business and over 3 years to financially “break-even”.

Over the duration of a 4-year apprenticeship an individual can earn over $210,000 with no training debt.

On average 93% of apprentices find full-time work in the same trade occupation once they have successfully completed their apprenticeship.

Governments, industry, and communities benefit most from supporting apprenticeships. Increased government financial support for employers, particularly in the early stages, can help offset initial costs until apprentices become productive.

Investing in the Group Training model will provide government with greater apprenticeship completions rates and provide opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds and communities. If the GTO network were able to support an additional 20,000 apprentices this would generate a significant net benefit to government.

ROI Calculator

Take a look at the five provided examples or input your own data into the DIY Calculator to see the potential return on investment for your apprenticeship or traineeship program.

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