New apprenticeships were introduced to Australia in January 1998 to provide practical training opportunities to a wider range of people than the traditional trade-based apprenticeship system did. The effect of the new apprenticeship initiative on the type of employment-based training being undertaken in Australia was studied by analyzing data from the following sources: the National Centre for Vocational Education Research's contract of training database; historical employment data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics census of population and housing survey; and a macroeconomic occupation and industry employment forecast. The following were among the key findings: (1) apprentice and trainee commencements in 2000-2001 are predicted to decline from 1998-1999 levels by 45,000; (2) between 1995 and 1999, canceled contracts-of-training have remained relatively steady in relation to contracts-of-training commencements; (3) although service-based occupations will continue to increase in importance for apprentice and training, traditional trade-based occupations are predicted to remain a key component of Australia's employment-based training system; and (4) both demand and supply-side effects are influencing increases in commencements of apprenticeship and traineeship training for service-based occupations. (Thirty-eight tables/figures are included. The bibliography lists 24 references. Four tables detailing total numbers of apprentices and trainees by occupation in 1994-1999 are appended.) (MN)