Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION

In May 2009, 2.9 million people aged 15-64 years applied to enrol in a course of study. Of these, 93% gained a place and were enrolled in a course of study (table 12.26).

12.26 PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION(a) - May 2009
		Males	Females	Persons
		'000	'000	'000
Applied to enrol		1 355.8	1 525.6	2 881.4
	Studying	1 275.6	1 401.4	2 676.9
	Gained placement but deferred study	47.6	82.9	130.5
	Unable to gain placement	32.6	41.3	73.9
(a) Persons aged 15-64 years.
Source: ABS data available on request, 2009 Survey of Education and Work.

In the period 2004-09, the demand for enrolment in a course of study increased. For example, applications from people aged 20-24 years increased by 14% (graph 12.27). The number of 20-24 year olds studying increased by 15% over the same period and the number of 25-64 year olds studying increased by 12%.

Many young people continue in full-time education immediately after completing compulsory schooling, either in post-compulsory schooling or in other forms of education, such as VET. In May 2009, 69% of 15-19 year olds were in full-time education (including 51% still at school). Some young people return to full-time study following a period of absence after completing compulsory schooling. In the 20-24 years age cohort, excluding persons still at school, 29% were undertaking full-time tertiary study and 11% were undertaking part-time tertiary study (table 12.28).

Many people aged 25 years and over return to study, to upgrade their skills or to gain new skills, often while employed. Some 6% of all persons aged 25-64 years in May 2009, were studying part-time at a tertiary institution, compared with 3% studying full-time.

12.28 EDUCATION PARTICIPATION RATES - May 2009
		Age group (years)
		15-19	20-24	25-64
		%	%	%
Attending school		50.9	0.1	-
Attending tertiary(a)
	Full time	18.4	29.2	2.5
	Part time	7.7	10.7	6.0
	Total	26.1	39.9	8.5
Attending		77.0	39.9	8.6
Not attending		23.0	60.1	91.4
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Educational institutions other than schools.
Source: ABS data available on request, 2009 Survey of Education and Work.

Between 2004 and 2009, the enrolment of 20-24 year olds in tertiary study increased by 16%. The number of full-time participants in this age group increased by 80,600 (22%) compared with an increase in part-time participation of 2,400 (2%). Over the same period, there was a 10% growth in the number of 15-19 year old participants. While the number of 25-64 year old participants increased by 12% overall, full-time participation by this age group increased by 28%, whereas part-time participation increased by 6% (graph 12.29).

Education and work

Graph 12.30 shows the labour force status of all students aged 15-64 years in May 2009. Labour force participation was lowest among those in Year 12 or below (40%) and greatest for those undertaking a Certificate III or IV (86%). Of the 1.6 million students who were employed in May 2009, some 41% were enrolled for a Bachelor degree or above.

Among young people enrolled to study in May 2009, full-time employment was much higher among those aged 20-24 years than those aged 15-19 (22% compared with 8%). In both age groups, students who undertook part-time study were more frequently employed full-time than part-time.


Full-time participation

The 'full-time participation rate' describes the proportion of the population who are fully engaged in education or work or a combination of both. This includes: full-time education; full-time work; or both part-time education and part-time work. The full-time participation rate can be useful to determine the proportion of young people not fully engaged in education and/or work, and who might be at risk of future marginal participation in the labour market.

In May 2009, 224,200 (16%) young people aged 15-19 years and 336,600 (22%) 20-24 year olds were not full-time participants. Some 54,000 (4%) 15-19 year olds and 109,000 (7%) 20-24 year olds were neither enrolled to study nor in the labour force (table 12.31).

12.31 YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION, By labour force status - May 2009
			Enrolled in all study(a)
			Full-time	Part-time	Total	Not enrolled	Total
			'000	'000	'000	'000	'000
15-19 YEARS
In the labour force
	Employed
		Full-time	8.1	84.6	92.7	119.2	211.8
		Part-time	378.5	15.2	393.7	91.9	485.6
		Total	386.6	99.7	486.4	211.0	697.4
	Unemployed		64.9	7.9	72.8	66.9	139.7
Not in the labour force			550.6	3.5	554.1	54.0	608.1
Total			1 002.1	111.2	1 113.3	331.9	1 445.2
20-24 YEARS
In the labour force
	Employed
		Full-time	17.4	113.5	130.9	586.6	717.6
		Part-time	216.5	34.2	250.7	142.2	392.9
		Total	233.9	147.7	381.6	728.9	1 110.5
	Unemployed		31.6	7.7	39.3	71.0	110.3
Not in the labour force			176.2	6.6	182.9	109.0	291.8
Total			441.8	162.0	603.8	908.8	1 512.7
(a) All persons participating in education, including those whose study will not lead to a qualification.
Source: ABS data available on request, 2009 Survey of Education and Work.

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