A study examined geographical distribution of Australian apprenticeship commencements (ACs) in the context of various labor force and population statistics by industry, location of jobs by industry, and youth population. Apprenticeship and traineeship statistics between 1995-98 were examined to demonstrate differences in development of the system between the states and territories. Findings indicated ACs in Australia in 1998-99 were distributed very unevenly on a geographic basis. Using the indicator of ACs to total employment, substantial differences were found between states and territories and between smaller geographic units, and the reasons were related to labor market and policy differences. Policy differences caused variation in growth of New Apprenticeships (NAs) between the states and territories. NAs achieved poor market penetration in areas where the labor market, especially for young people, was strong. ACs to jobs ratios were higher in non-metropolitan areas; at the state/territory level, in stronger labor markets young unemployed people were less likely to enter an apprenticeship; in metropolitan areas there was a geographical mismatch between job location and residential location of young unemployed; and rapid growth in numbers in jurisdictions might be associated with a loss in training quality. (Appendixes include 24 references, labor market statistics, and apprenticeships by jurisdiction.) (YLB)