As of December 31, 2002, an estimated 373,200 Australians were undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship, an increase of 14.8% over the number in training in 2001 and more than double the number in training in 1996; three quarters of apprentices and trainees in-training were undertaking Australian Qualification Framework Level III programs; and the two largest occupation groups in training were the trades and related workers at 35.4% and intermediate clerical, sales and service workers at 27.5%. From 1996 to 2002, participation rates in apprenticeships and traineeships for Australia's employed work force aged 15 to 64 years increased from 1.9% to 3.9%; participation for young people aged 15 to 24 years increased from 8.5% to 11.6%, while the participation rate of young females more than doubled from 3.4% to 7.6%. Also in 2002, individuals identifying themselves as Indigenous made up almost 2% of the total number of apprentices and trainees; about 84% of apprentices and trainees in-training were undertaking qualifications associated with a National Training Package, up from 72% in 2001; and the majority of apprentices and trainees (83%) were employed in the private sector. According to the 2002 Student Outcomes Survey, apprentices and trainees were generally satisfied with the TAFE (Technical and Further Education) course they undertook as their off-the-job training component. (Contains 7 tables.) (MO)