Why do Australian apprentices have one of the highest apprenticeship dropout rates in Australia?

By Justin Pace, 2023 AHIA Australian Hairdresser of the Year

The perfect storm for the weakening of the Australian hairdressing industry is an apprentice dropout rate of 63% (and I can’t see this figure going down soon.)

What is to blame? Who is to blame?

These are hard questions. There are multiple factors causing this high percentage of apprenticeship abandonment: expectations, education, social media, physical demands, salon set-up and mental health. Though there are additional aspects, have personally found these particularly encroach upon apprentices not enjoying their work/workplace.

Expectations: is there an expectation we can run before we walk?

Currently within my brand, I’m working on this subject. How can I show the next generation of apprentices they’re able to reach collectively re-engineered expectations faster, simultaneously keeping both the apprenticeship and industry professional?

I cannot increasingly give into boundary-shifting demands – and if I do – the quality of the educational channel and industry suffer.

Also – school-wise – are students leaving the system with unrealistic expectations (since schools now tend to over-reward?) Upon entering the workforce (when apprentices don’t meet individual expectations within the first six – 12 months), do things become all too hard (impacting motivation?)

Education: are we trying to be educators before we’re educated?

I’ve been in the hairdressing industry 31 years – and of these three decades – an educator roughly half this time. Not only did it take me years to hone my craft, but it also took additional years to understand what educating is about – you must thoroughly know the ins-and-outs of your domain, plus understand it’s about other people and the value they attain (not about you or who / what you are.)

In recent years, not only feel as though hairdressers want to become educators earlier on but instant educators. By this occurring, are we lowering the standard of what’s being delivered (consequently diminishing industry calibre?) Feel this is something that’s changed a lot.

Social media: the carefully curated highlight reel that alters perception.

In using social media to help modulate individuality, have we all become one and the same?

I believe social media gives a false impression of what things are really like in the workplace (alongside what is true and achievable.) Does social media provide a false perception of the hair salons do on a day-to-day basis? A final image only shows the glossy finished product, not the fundamental technique journey required to achieve skill mastery.

As social media is a quick inspiration fix, find apprentices struggle to do a two-hour, intense, technical training session (as they wish to arrive at the final look in a faster timeframe, sacrificing the fundamental technique journey.)

Physical demands: are we not investing in the health of our future body?

Health is wealth. If the physical health of our body is compromised, trouble is encountered (as our body is the only place we have to live.) We must regularly convey to apprentices the value of looking after our future body, infusing the mantra, ‘Regular treatments are a must.’ Realignment modalities, soft tissue massage and pressure point manipulation can all help manage issues before they morph into fullblown problems. In addition, as little as 30 minutes per day of outside exercise can help.

Salon set-up: the ever-changing nature of varying service contexts.

The traditional salon is no longer the only industry business model. As there are now a variety of contexts, the demand for apprentices has decreased (as single operators / home-based salons neither have the income nor time to either pay or teach apprentices.) Conventionally, apprentices were hired in a traditional salon scenario (the owner paying the apprentice wage.) As the traditional salon is no longer the sole industry business model, apprentices are not being hired as they customarily were.

Mental health: though society has changed, are we assuming people should handle life as they did a generation ago?

‘Mental health’ has always been around, however in past was a hard subject to talk about. With society today, people feel more inclined to talk about mental health issues (which can permeate the day-to-day running of a business.)

People suffer from mental health due to family matters, life pressure, finance, etcetera. I feel consistent burden on the young generation to be individual is pushing upon mental health. Nowadays, though there’s more support around mental health (which is a good thing), don’t know if people are relying on medication and / or a mixture of medication to deal with matters.

As the above truths perhaps sound negative, the way I positively navigate for my business / apprentices is to create a highly structured training programme, providing small, achievable tasks individuals can accomplish fast (the pleasure of success experienced at every step.) In addition, the major way I find to keep apprentices is to create a family-operated culture (allowing all to feel like they team-belong, since they’re cared about and listened to.)

@coandpacesalons @pacejustin