Training Practices Survey

   Page tools:

    NAME OF ORGANISATION
    Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

    OVERVIEW

    The sample of employers for this survey was the same as that for the Training Expenditure Survey (TES) conducted in 1996. The results of these two surveys are therefore directly comparable and TES data can be used in any analysis.

    The Training Practices Suevey (TPS) collected information from employers in Australia on factors affecting the provision of structured and unstructured training, during the 12 months period ending Feb 1997. It sought information on training practices as they applied to the organisation as a whole, not to individual employees.

    Most questions in the TPS required 'tick' box responses. Therefore, estimates can only be obtained at the organisation level. Whether training practices apply to the entire organisation, or only part of the organisation, could not be ascertained.

    Most estimates derived solely from the TPS are expressed as a percentage of employers. However, where data from the TES has been analysed against responses in the TPS, the estimates are presented as either: training expenditure as a percentage of employers' total gross wages and salaries, training hours per employee or training dollars per employee.


    The survey covered employers in all States and Territories and all industries except for: employers primarily engaged in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; private households employing staff; overseas embassies, consulates, etc.; and the Australian permanent defence forces.

    The TPS used the same sample of employers as had been selected for the conduct of the TES 1996. The sample consisted of approximately 6,000 employers selected from the ABS register of businesses. The sample was stratified by sector, industry and employer size. The number of employers surveyed in the TPS was around 4% less than in TES due primarily to changes in business operations.

    The statistical unit for the survey comprised all activities of a management unit in a particular State or Territory. Each statistical unit was classified to an industry which reflected the predominant activity of the management unit in the State or Territory. In the case where a management unit had a significant number of employees in more than one industry, a separate statistical unit was created for each industry. The statistical units are referred to as employers for this collection.

    PURPOSE

    The Training Practices Suevey (TPS) collected information from employers in Australia on factors affecting the provision of structured and unstructured training, during the 12 months period ending Feb 1997. It sought information on training practices as they applied to the organisation as a whole, not to individual employees.

    SCOPE

    Public and Private sector employers excluding Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, Private Households Employing Staff, Foreign Government Representation and the Military. The 1996 TPS collected information on both structured and unstructured training. Effectively, this broadened the scope of the survey, whereas in 1994 TPS only collected information on structured training.

    DATA DETAIL

    Conceptual framework

    The TPS collected data relating to structured training. The survey covered employers in all States and Territories and all industries except for: employers primarily engaged in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; private households employing staff; overseas embassies, consulates, etc.; and the Australian permanent defence forces. The sample consisted of approximately 6,000 employers selected from the ABS register of businesses. The sample was stratified by sector, industry and employer size.


    The statistical unit for the survey comprised all activities of a management unit in a particular State or Territory. Each statistical unit was classified to an industry which reflected the predominant activity of the management unit in the State or Territory. In the case where a management unit had a significant number of employees in more than one industry, a separate statistical unit was created for each industry. The statistical units are referred to as employers for this collection. Information was collected on factors affecting the provision of training and how training is planned.

    Main outputs

    The TPS collected data on:

    • proportion of employees in occupational groups;
    • which occupational groups received formal training;
    • reasons for employers training their employees;
    • how training is structured;
    • types of support for structured training;
    • change in training expenditure during the refernce period;
    • written training plans;
    • external training providers;
    • recruitment difficulties.

    Classifications

    State

    Sector

    Employer size

    Industry

    Occupational group

    Other concepts (summary)

    The survey sought information on training practices as they applied to the organisation as a whole and not individual employees.

    GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
    Australia
    New South Wales
    Victoria
    Queensland
    South Australia
    Western Australia
    Tasmania
    Northern Territory
    ACT

    Comments and/or Other Regions



    COLLECTION FREQUENCY
    Other

    Frequency comments

    First conducted in 1994 and again in 1997. User funded and likelihood of future surveys unknown. Companion survey to the Training Expenditure Survey, last conducted in 1996.

    COLLECTION HISTORY

    Previously conducted in 1994.



    DATA AVAILABILITY
    Yes

    Data availability comments

    Special data requests to Mike Scott, Labour Employer Surveys Branch (WA Office) on (08) 9360 5276.




    DATE OF LAST UPDATE FOR THIS DOCUMENT
    28/05/2002 08:30 AM