LEVEL OF HIGHEST NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATION

In May 2014, 57% of people aged 15–74 years had a non-school qualification. There was a higher proportion of males (59%) than females (56%) having a non-school qualification. People who were Australian or New Zealand citizens (55%) were less likely to have a non-school qualification than people who were not citizens (61%). A higher proportion of people with temporary visas (65%) had a non-school qualification compared with people on permanent visas (56%). Temporary residents who were not here on student visas (72%) were the most likely to have a non-school qualification.

Persons aged over 55 years were less likely to have a non-school qualification than those aged 25-44 years:

• 72% of people aged 25-34 years
• 70% of people aged 35-44 years
• 57% of people aged 55-64 years
• 45% of people aged 65-74 years

have non-school qualifications. (Table 7)

The most common levels of highest non-school qualification were Certificate III/IV (3 million people) and Bachelor degree (2.8 million people) while 84% of people with a non-school qualification completed it in Australia. (Table 8)

Among the 9.9 million people aged 15–74 years with a non-school qualification, the most common main fields of study for the highest non-school qualification were Management and commerce (24%) and Engineering and related technologies (17%). (Table 12)


LEVEL OF HIGHEST EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Just over a quarter (28%) of people aged 15–74 years reported their highest educational attainment as Year 11 or below and 18% reported Year 12. A further 17% had a highest level of attainment of a Certificate III or IV, 16% had a Bachelor degree, 2.9% had a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate and 5.2% had a Postgraduate Degree. Two-fifths (40%) of people in the ACT had a Bachelor Degree or above as their highest level of educational attainment, the highest proportion of all states and territories.

A higher proportion of males than females reported their level of highest educational attainment as Certificate III or IV, with 22% of all males reporting this qualification, compared with 12% of females. However, a higher proportion of females (26%) than males (22%) had obtained a Bachelor Degree or higher qualification. (Table 13)