MEDIA RELEASE
12 May 2014	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	58/2014

Regions in the capital cities of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney showed some of the biggest increases in rates of attainment of higher level qualifications according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

"Brisbane - North had the largest increase in the rate of attainment of higher level qualifications among 20-64 year olds of all regions in Australia between 2001 and 2011. This was an increase from 38 per cent to 53 per cent, equating to 24,300 more people." said Ms Lisa Conolly, Director of Rural and Regional Statistics at the ABS.

"Brisbane - North has a very mobile population, with almost a third of its residents moving there in the last five years. The people who moved there tended to be younger and more likely to have a qualification, and this contributed to the increase," said Ms Conolly.

The report shows Sydney - City and Inner South also had a large increase in its rate of attainment of higher level qualifications, influenced by the above average proportion of people who arrived from overseas since 2002.

"A larger proportion of those who had recently arrived from overseas had higher level qualifications than the average for Australia, indicating that overseas migration was a driver of the increase in attainment in this region," said Ms Conolly.

Outside of the capital cities, South East Tasmania had the largest increase in the rate of attainment of higher level qualifications, increasing by 14 percentage points, from 27 per cent to 41 percent of 20-64 year olds. In South East Tasmania, an inflow of people with higher level qualifications among people over 50 years of age contributed to the increase.

The rate of attainment of higher level qualifications grew in all regions of Australia. Overall, working age people between the ages of 20 and 64 years were more likely to have a higher level education qualification in 2011 than they were ten years earlier. In 2011, half (50 per cent) of all people aged 20 - 64 had a higher level qualification, up 12 percentage points from 38 per cent in 2001.

Further information can be found in Perspectives on Regional Australia: Change in Educational Attainment in Regions, 2001 to 2011 (cat. no. 1380.0.55.014), available for free download from the ABS website(www.abs.gov.au).

While eastern states had higher growth in rates of attainment, levels of attainment vary across regions of Australia. Analysis of levels of attainment in regions in 2011 can be found in Perspectives on Regional Australia: Non-school Qualifications in Regions, 2011 (cat. no. 1380.0.55.011).

Media Note:

• Higher level education refers to qualifications post year 12 level and includes certificate level III and IV, diplomas and advanced diplomas, and university level qualifications.
• Unless otherwise indicated, regions in this media release refer to Statistical Areas Level 4.
• When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
• Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.