Apprenticeships linked to lower loneliness, report

Apprenticeships Are Us has published research showing low reported loneliness among young people who completed trade apprenticeships. The findings are based on a survey of 360 apprenticeship completers in its 2026 Social Impact Report.

The report found 80.9% of respondents felt lonely rarely or never in the previous four weeks, a result that stands out against broader concern about social isolation among younger Australians.

That contrast is sharpened by data from Mission Australia's 2025 Youth Survey, which found 51.3% of young people aged 14 to 19 experienced loneliness at least some of the time, while 16.8% experienced it most or all of the time.

The research examined outcomes beyond jobs and qualifications, including wellbeing, social connection, and the effect of apprenticeships on families and communities.

Among those surveyed, 64.4% said they had someone outside their home they could confide in. Respondents with access to a confidant recorded lower average loneliness scores than those without one.

Managing Director Dr Michael Wentworth said the organisation had expected former apprentices to report a sense of achievement from finishing their training, but the broader social findings were less anticipated.

"We expected former apprentices to report that completing an apprenticeship supported a sense of accomplishment," Dr Michael Wentworth, Managing Director of Apprenticeships Are Us, said.

"We were surprised to find evidence of the broader role the workplace appears to play in people's lives, creating identity, connection and influence that can extend beyond the individual."

Workplace ties

The report suggests the work environment itself may be an important source of routine social contact for this group. It points to the workplace not only as a source of income, but also as a setting where younger workers form relationships and a sense of belonging.

"The workplace itself appears to function as social infrastructure for this cohort," Dr Wentworth said.

"For a young person, going to work each day can mean being part of a team, having people around them, developing relationships and becoming part of a professional community."

The findings also point to relatively strong measures of personal wellbeing across the surveyed cohort. Respondents reported a mean life satisfaction score of 7.72 out of 11 and a mean work satisfaction score of 7.81, while 77.7% gave a life satisfaction score of seven or above.

These results add another layer to the discussion around vocational education, which is often assessed through completion rates, employment outcomes and pay rather than broader social measures.

Dr Wentworth said that broader frame matters when considering what apprenticeships may do for younger participants over time.

"We need to think about apprenticeships as pathways that can influence a person's employment, financial position, wellbeing, social connections and even the aspirations of the people around them," he said.

"The qualification is important, but clearly it is only part of the story."

Family effect

The report also explored whether completing an apprenticeship had effects beyond the individual. It found 60.3% of respondents were the first in their family to complete a trade qualification.

In addition, 38.6% said their experience had encouraged someone else in their household or social network to pursue vocational training. This suggests trade pathways may have a wider influence on education choices within families and peer groups.

For policymakers and training providers, the figures may strengthen arguments that apprenticeships should be viewed through a broader social lens. If sustained employment, team-based work and workplace identity help reduce isolation, the value of apprenticeships may extend into areas usually discussed in health, youth and community policy.

The survey was based on responses from people who had completed trade apprenticeships, so it does not capture the experience of all young workers or those who left training before completion. Even so, the results offer a counterpoint to the view that younger Australians are becoming steadily more disconnected, with 80.9% of respondents saying they felt lonely rarely or never in the previous four weeks.