APPRENTICESHIPS are attracting nearly 11 applications on average for every vacancy, with business and administration the most popular positions, say new figures.
Statistics from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), which supports apprenticeships in England, show there were 1.1m applications submitted online for 106,510 vacancies advertised during 2012.
Business and administration apprenticeships had the biggest number of vacancies and attracted the highest number of applications.
The figures were taken from the NAS vacancies database showing all applications submitted online and vacancies advertised online between January 1 and November 30, 2012.
Vacancies advertised online on the database account for around 80% of all apprenticeship vacancies available.
David Way, NAS chief executive, said: “The high number of applications generated in 2012 is further evidence of just how popular apprenticeships have become.
“The quality training on offer means apprenticeships are fast becoming a first choice career option for a wide range of people.
“In 2013 we hope to see further growth in the number of new vacancies registered online through our free recruitment service and an increase in the number of apprenticeships available in key industry sectors such as the digital and creative industries, engineering and IT.
“We would like to help even more employers use higher, advanced and intermediate apprenticeships to recruit new staff and are encouraging them to find out more about funding available.”
