A study provided information about trends in Australian apprenticeships and traineeships from 1995-98. The number of vocational education and training (VET) commencements grew strongly from 64,470 to 133,750; the number in training grew from 144,990 to 206,370; and the number of completions grew from 31,560 to 52,070. Although the proportion of younger people in commencements and numbers in training decreased, the participation rate for all age groups increased. All major occupational categories experienced growth in commencements, completions, and numbers in training, although the rate of growth varied considerably between the various occupational categories, causing a shift in proportional distributions. Commencements and numbers in training comprised a strongly and steadily increasing proportion of females. Although the number of commencements for each age cohort grew for each year, the growth was clearly more marked for the older age cohorts. All main categories of employer type, except the Commonwealth Government, showed strong growth in the number of apprentices and trainees employed by them. The proportional distribution of commencements by employer type remained similar over the same period. Most categories of geographic region of apprentices' and trainees' normal place of residence experienced growth. (Appendixes include a glossary and 14 apprentice and trainee population data tables.) (YLB)