The biggest proportional increase from April's advertised vacancies is in hospitality, travel and tourism.

COVID-19 caused vacancies in this field to plummet 97 per cent in April to just three available positions nationwide.

Advertised vacancies are still almost half of May 2019 vacancies, but the renewed interest in committing to training young people indicates that confidence is returning to the sector hit hardest by the pandemic.

Another sector regaining confidence is sports, recreation, hair and beauty services, which fell by 94 per cent in April. Vacancies are now at almost 50 per cent compared with the same time last year, indicating a gradual return to normal.

Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have experienced the strongest bounce-back, while NSW and the Northern Territory are still heading in the wrong direction, with both states advertising fewer vacancies in May than in April.

While WA had the strongest recovery from April 2020, apprenticeship vacancies in that state are still at just 40 per cent of the same month last year - the biggest drop year-on-year.

"The number of apprenticeship vacancies advertised is a good proxy for economic confidence," Gary Workman, chief executive of Global Apprenticeship Network Australia, said.

"Apprenticeships are three-to-four-year commitments that a business makes to secure its future. When businesses are uncertain that they will be able to support an apprentice for that timeframe, they are very reluctant to take them on."

Twenty-year-old fitter and turner Bryce Noble, of Victoria, was in the third year of his apprenticeship when COVID-19 struck. He is relieved to have been re-employed after being stood down.

"I was working in a workshop that relied heavily on the education sector," Mr Noble said.

"With the closures of all educational institutions the workload dramatically reduced and the risk of working increased.

"As a result, the host company, to whom I was employed, stood down all staff until further notice."

Mr Noble's employer, the Ai Group Apprentice and Trainee Centre, began looking for a new host company for him.

"This wasn't a great concern financially, as I am aware there is a shortage of tradespeople in the industry. However, I was concerned that I would miss out on the opportunity to learn, as the institution that employed me offered no end of opportunity to learn and develop."

He was relieved to discover his training organisation had identified some potential employers.

"I was even more relieved when I successfully interviewed at Marand ... I was very excited to have the opportunity.

"Group training organisations provide a sense of security for apprentices who find themselves in a scenario as precarious as the one in which I found myself.

"Though there are upsides and downsides to everything, group training has been nothing but good to me and I am thankful for having it as an option that's for sure."