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PARTICIPATION


In May 2012, there were 14.8 million people aged 15–64 years and 382,800 people aged 65–74 years in the labour force or marginally attached to the labour force who were in the scope of the survey. (Tables 2 and 15)

Of those aged 15–64 years, 2.8 million (19%) were enrolled in study for a qualification. Approximately 1.2 million (42%) of these enrolled people were attending a higher education institution, 764,000 (27%) were at school, 518,200 (18%) were at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions and 363,600 (13%) were at other educational institutions. (Table 1)

In May 2012, of people aged 15–64 years enrolled in study for a qualification, 53% were female, 41% were aged 15–19 years, 67% were enrolled full time and 25% were born overseas. (Table 1)

The proportion of people aged 15–64 years who were enrolled in study for a qualification increased from 17% in 2001 to 19% in 2012. Of females aged 15–64 years, the proportion enrolled in study for a qualification rose from 17% in 2001 to 20% in 2012. Male enrolments in study for a qualification were 17% in 2001 and 18% in 2012. (Table 2)

More than two-fifths (43%) of people aged 15–64 years who were enrolled in a non-school qualification were studying for a Bachelor Degree. Almost half of these people (48%) were aged 20–24 years and 25% were aged 15–19 years. (Table 3)

There were significantly more females than males studying for a Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certificate, a Bachelor Degree and an Advanced Diploma/Diploma. One-quarter (26%) of males enrolled in a non-school qualification were studying for a Certificate III or IV, compared with 19% of females. (Table 3)

As in 2011, the most commonly reported main field study for people aged 15–64 years enrolled in a non-school qualification in 2012 was Management and commerce (25%), followed by Society and culture (19%). People studying in the main field of Information technology decreased from 9% of persons aged 15–64 years enrolled in a non-school qualification in 2001 to 3% in 2012. More females than males were studying in the fields of Society and culture (271,300 and 121,900 respectively). One-fifth (21%) of males aged 15–64 years enrolled in a non-school qualification were studying in the main field of Engineering and related technologies, compared with 1% of females aged 15–64 years. Of the 144,600 people aged 15–64 years enrolled in the field of Education, 77% were female. (Tables 4 and 7)