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Minister Lawless announces findings from the National Survey of Apprentices 2024-2025

‘A key skills base in Ireland’

The results of the National Survey of Apprentices 2024-2025 have been officially launched today by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD and Minister of State Marian Harkin TD. The survey, conducted late last year by the National Apprenticeship Office, received responses from over 5,500 apprentices and provides compelling insights into growing diversity, satisfaction, and the positive impact of apprenticeships in Ireland.

The survey findings underscore the vital role apprenticeships play in equipping individuals across all ages and backgrounds with the skills and opportunities to succeed, while also delivering substantial benefits to employers and the wider economy.

The key findings from the Survey include:

  • High satisfaction: Apprentices rated their overall satisfaction at 7.5 out of 10, with 80% saying they would recommend the route to family or friends.
  • Age Profile: 12.8% of respondents were aged 31 years or over, 24.1% aged 23-30 years and 53.3% aged 19-22 years showing there is growing participation across all age ranges.
  • Strong employment outcomes: 94% of respondents reported their apprenticeship gave them good employment opportunities.
  • Supportive environments: 85% said their employer supports their development, and 90% felt happy asking questions in college.
  • Learning and relevance: 84% reported learning gave them confidence, and 76% believed their apprenticeship included the relevant skills needed for employment.
  • Increasing diversity: 92% of apprentices are male and 8% are female showing there is growing participation from females. 5% of all respondents reported being from another ethnic or cultural background.
  • Challenges acknowledged: The survey also revealed areas for improvement, including challenges related to study pressures and linking theory with practice.

Minister James Lawless TD commented:

"These findings reaffirm the value of apprenticeships as a key skills base in Ireland, a powerful engine for skills development and inclusion across almost 80 occupations in 21st century Ireland. We are committed to building on this feedback to further strengthen the apprenticeship system in Ireland."

Minister of State Marian Harkin TD commented:

"The results of this national survey are a powerful testament to the impact and contribution of our apprentices across the country. Apprentices are gaining confidence, skills, and meaningful employment opportunities – and they are telling us this route is working. As Minister for State, I am proud to support an apprenticeship system that is inclusive, responsive, and central to our future workforce."

Director of the National Apprenticeship Office, Dr. Mary-Liz Trant commented:

"We are delighted to support the announcement of the key findings from our National Survey of Apprentices, the latest since 2020 and one which shows how much the apprenticeship landscape has changed in this time. The survey gives voice to thousands of apprentices and confirms that apprenticeship is delivering strong, relevant learning and career outcomes. We are especially encouraged by the high levels of satisfaction and sense of belonging that apprentices report, both in the workplace and in education. These insights will directly inform how we continuously improve the apprenticeship system to meet the needs of learners and employers alike."

The official launch of the survey results also marked the unveiling of an infographic summarising the survey’s results. A full report will follow later in 2025, including comparisons with the last national survey in 2020 and deeper analysis of over 2,000 anonymised apprentice comments.

NOTES

The National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) provides oversight and management of the national apprenticeship system on behalf of the Government and the agencies SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority. The NAO implements national policy and strategy, currently the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025.

With 77 National Apprenticeship programmes now on offer across the country, qualifying highly skilled apprentices of all ages and backgrounds up to PhD level, apprenticeship is fast becoming the ‘go to place’ for skills development. The economic and social benefits for Ireland are substantial.