6227.0 - Education and Work, Australia, May 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/12/2003   
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MEDIA RELEASE

December 05, 2003
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
62/2001

Australians becoming more educated

The proportion of people aged 15 to 64 years studying for a qualification increased from 16% in May 1993 to 18% in May 2003, according to results released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Of the 2,338,100 people aged 15 to 64 years studying for a qualification in May 2003, 28% were studying for a Bachelor degree. Over one-quarter (26%) of these were aged 15 to 19 years, and 46% were aged 20 to 24 years.

Management and commerce (18%) and society and culture (13%) were the most common fields of study among people studying for a qualification, apart from mixed field programmes (which predominantly include people studying for Year 12 or below).

The proportion of Australians aged 15 to 64 years with a non-school qualification(*) increased from 39% in 1993 to 49% in 2003. This increase was mainly in people whose highest non-school qualification was a Bachelor degree or higher (10% in 1993 to 18% in 2003).

The 6,414,500 people with a non-school qualification were more likely to be employed (81%) than those without a non-school qualification (61%). Employed people with a non-school qualification were more likely to work full-time (77%), than those without (63%).

In May 2003, approximately 391,700 people were enrolled in study leading to a qualification who had not been enrolled in 2002. Of this group, 57% were female. Under one-third (32%) were aged 25 to 34 years, and 23% were aged 20 to 24 years.

Further details are available in Education and Work, Australia, May 2003 (cat. no. 6227.0).

(*) Media Note: Non-school qualification refers to educational attainments other than those of pre-primary, primary or secondary education.