08/07/2009 Note: The datacube added is the seventh in a series which focus on specific aspects of education and training data, from the Survey of Education and Work. It provides data in Excel spreadsheets for persons with a qualification at Certificate II level or above, by State/Territory of Residence, Sex and age group. Includes data for 2001-2008.
05/06/2009 Note: The data cube Persons enrolled at educational institutions (all study), by State/Territory of Residence, sex and age group. Includes data for 2001-2008, has been replaced to correct age ranges, the label '45-54' changed to '45-49' and '55-54' changed to '50-54'.
26/05/2009 Note: Additional Data Cubes have been released to supplement the Survey of Education and Work publication released in November 2008.
NOTES
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION
This publication presents information about the educational experience of persons aged 15-64 years, especially in relation to their labour force status.
Statistics in this publication were collected in May 2008 as a supplement to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS).
Information collected in the survey includes: labour force characteristics; participation in education in the year prior to the survey, and in the survey month; type of educational institution; level of education of current and previous study; highest year of school completed; level of highest non-school qualification; level of highest educational attainment; transition from education to work; enrolment experience; and selected characteristics of apprentices.
Unless otherwise specified, differences between data items highlighted in the Summary of Findings are statistically significant.
This publication includes Data Cubes in spreadsheet format available on the ABS website <http//www.abs.gov.au>. An expanded range of statistics in spreadsheet format will supplement this publication and will also be available on the ABS website <http//www.abs.gov.au> at a later date.
ROUNDING
As estimates have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
INQUIRIES
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
PARTICIPATION
In May 2008, there were 13.9 million people aged 15-64 years in the scope of the survey, of whom 2.6 million (19%) were enrolled in a course of study. Approximately 968,200 (38%) of these enrolled people were attending a higher education institution, 728,600 (28%) were at school, 563,500 (22%) were at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions, and 315,800 (12%) were at other educational institutions. (Table 1)
In May 2008, 51% of people enrolled in a course of study were female, 43% were aged 15-19 years, and 63% were studying full-time. (Table 1)
Study for a qualification
Approximately 96% (2.5 million) of people who were enrolled in a course of study, were enrolled in a course for a qualification. The proportion of people aged 15-64 years who were enrolled in a course for a qualification increased from 17% in 1998 to 18% in 2008. (Table 2)
More than one in four (28%) people enrolled in a course for a qualification were studying for a Bachelor Degree. Almost half of these people (48%) were aged 20-24 years and 27% were aged 15-19 years. (Table 3)
Other than Mixed field programmes (30%), which includes people studying Year 12 or below, the most commonly reported main field of education of current study for people enrolled in a course for a qualification was Management and commerce (18%), followed by Society and culture (12%). (Table 4)
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Level of highest non-school qualification
The proportion of people with a non-school qualification increased from 42% in May 1998 to 54% in May 2008. In particular, the proportion of people with a Bachelor Degree or above increased from 14% in May 1998 to 22% in May 2008. The proportion of people whose highest non-school qualification was an Advanced Diploma or below increased from 28% in 1998 to 31% in 2008. (Table 7)
PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WITH A NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATION, May 1998 to May 2008
Among the 7.5 million people with a non-school qualification, the most commonly reported fields of education for the highest non-school qualification were Management and commerce (23%) and Engineering and related technologies (18%). (Table 9)
Of people with a non-school qualification, 83% were employed, compared to 65% without a non-school qualification. Over three quarters (77%) of employed people with a non-school qualification were employed full-time, compared to 64% of employed people without a non-school qualification. (Table 11)
Level of highest educational attainment
Almost one-third (31%) of people aged 15-64 years reported their level of highest educational attainment as Year 11 or below and 20% reported Year 12. Additionally, more than one in five (22%) had a highest level of attainment of Bachelor Degree or above and 16% had a Certificate III or IV. (Table 13)
TRANSITION FROM EDUCATION TO WORK
Starting a course of study
In May 2008, there were 398,300 people who had not studied for any qualification during 2007 but had since started such a course. Of these, 55% were females and 74% were employed, 67% of whom were employed full-time. People aged 20-24 years were 6 times more likely to be studying for a qualification than those aged 45-64 years. (Table 15)
Leaving a course of study
In May 2008, there were 992,600 people who had studied for a qualification at some time during 2007 but had since left all such courses. People who had left study for a qualification were more likely to be employed than the general population (84% compared with 75%). (Table 11 and Table 15)
School leavers
In May 2008, there were 313,600 people aged 15-24 years who attended school at some time during 2007 but had since left. Of these school leavers, 57% were studying in 2008, 32% were not studying and employed and 5% were not studying and unemployed. (Table 20)
APPRENTICES
In May 2008, there were 188,700 people aged 15-64 years who were employed as apprentices and part of the
Australian Apprenticeship Scheme. Of these, 88% were males and 50% were aged 15-19 years. The most commonly reported industry of apprenticeships was Construction (40%). (Table 22)
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