6227.0 - Education and Work, Australia, May 1998  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 04/12/1998   
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  • ABS publication charts transition from education to work (Media Release)

MEDIA RELEASE

December 04, 1998
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
134/1998

ABS publication charts transition from education to work

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released today show that half of the 8.4 million employed people in May 1998 had a recognised post-school qualification, compared with 30% of the 735,600 unemployed people. Almost 44% of those unemployed had not attended the highest level of school available.

The statistics show a slight rise in the proportion of people with post-school qualifications in both the employed and unemployed categories, and in numbers of unemployed people who had finished high school, compared to the last survey in May 1997.

The publication Transition from Education to Work, Australia, May 1998 indicates that in May 1998, some 5.2 million people had recognised post-school qualifications. Of these, more than 2.4 million had vocational qualifications, such as a trade, and a further 1.8 million had a Bachelor degree or higher qualification. The remaining 970,000 had Undergraduate or Associate diplomas.

Of the 161, 900 persons who left Year 12 in 1997, 113,000 (70%) were attending tertiary education in May 1998.

In May 1998, over half (54%) of all 15-24 year olds (2.6 million) were enrolled at an educational institution. Of all persons aged 15-64, just over 17% (2.1 million) were similarly enrolled. The majority of these people (2.0 million or 91%) were studying for a recognised educational qualification. Included in this group were 721,800 people (37%) in Bachelor degree or higher courses and 677,400 people (35%) studying towards senior secondary certificates. There were 187,700 persons enrolled in courses of study that would not result in the attainment of recognised educational qualifications.

The survey showed that there were 124,500 apprentices in May 1998, and 57% of these were between 15 and 19 years of age.

Further detail is in Transition from Education to Work, Australia, May 1998 (cat. no. 6227.0) available from ABS Bookshops in all capital cities. A summary of findings can be found on this site.