Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION

In May 2006, 2.6 million people aged 15-64 years applied to enrol in a course of study. Of these, 92% gained a place and were enrolled in a course of study (table 12.22).

12.22 PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION(a) - May 2006
	Males	Females	Persons
	'000	'000	'000
Studying	1 127.3	1 265.1	2 392.4
Gained placement but deferred study	65.1	69.7	134.8
Unable to gain placement	23.9	32.3	56.2
(a) Persons aged 15-64 years who applied to enrol in a course of study.
Source: ABS data available on request, Survey of Education and Work.

In the period 2001-06, the demand for enrolment in a course of study increased. For example, applications from people aged 20-24 years increased by 19% (graph 12.23). While the number of 20-24 year olds studying increased by 22% over the same period, the number of 25-64 year olds studying increased by 25%. There was little change however, in the proportion of all applicants who reported being unable to gain a place, remaining at less than 1%.

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 2006, 69% of 15-19 year olds were in full-time education (including 52% 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, 25% were undertaking full-time tertiary study and 12% were undertaking part-time tertiary study (table 12.24).

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 2006, were studying part time at a tertiary institution, compared with 2% studying full time.

12.24 EDUCATION PARTICIPATION RATES(a) - May 2006
		Age group (years)
		15-19	20-24	25-64
		%	%	%
Attending school		51.6	*0.2	-
Attending tertiary(b)
	Full time	18.4	24.7	1.9
	Part time	7.5	12.0	5.6
	Total	25.9	36.7	7.5
Attending		77.5	36.9	7.6
Not attending		22.5	63.1	92.4
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Persons aged 15-64 years.
(b) Educational institutions other than schools.
Source: ABS data available on request, 2006 Survey of Education and Work.

Between 2001 and 2006 the enrolment of 20-24 year olds in tertiary study, increased by 12%. The number of full-time participants in this age group increased by 47,900 (16%) compared with an increase in part-time participation of 9,700 (6%). Over the same period, there has been a 1.5% growth in the number of 15-19 year old participants. While the number of 25-64 year old participants increased by 5% overall, full-time participation by this age group increased by 13%, whereas part-time participation decreased, by 3% (graph 12.25).

Education and work

Graph 12.26 shows the labour force status of all students aged 15-64 years in May 2006. Labour force participation was lowest among those in Year 12 or below (42%) and greatest for those undertaking a Certificate III or IV (89%). Of the 1.4 million students who were employed in May 2006, some 40% were enrolled for a Bachelor degree or above.

Among young people enrolled to study in May 2006, full-time employment was much higher among those aged 20-24 years than those aged 15-19 years (27% 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 2006, 180,000 (13%) of young people aged 15-19 years and 301,100 (21%) of 20-24 year olds were not full-time participants. Some 46,300 (3.4%) of 15-19 year olds and 103,500 (7.2%) of 20-24 year olds were neither enrolled to study nor in the labour force (table 12.27).

12.27 YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION, By labour force status - May 2006
			Enrolled in 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	10.9	75.2	86.1	137.3	223.4
		Part time	374.5	19.2	393.7	74.3	468.0
		Total	385.3	94.4	479.7	211.6	691.3
	Unemployed		67.8	5.5	73.3	50.4	123.7
Not in the labour force			506.0	3.5	509.6	46.3	555.9
Total			959.2	103.5	1 062.6	308.3	1 370.9
20-24 YEARS
In the labour force
	Employed
		Full time	14.3	128.8	143.1	616.7	759.9
		Part time	188.4	27.1	215.5	120.9	336.4
		Total	202.7	155.9	358.6	737.7	1 096.3
	Unemployed		12.9	4.8	17.7	60.6	78.3
Not in the labour force			139.5	11.3	150.8	103.5	254.3
Total			355.0	172.0	527.0	901.8	1 428.8
(a) All persons participating in education, including those whose study will not lead to a qualification.
Source: ABS data available on request, Survey of Education and Work.

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