1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/01/2002   
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Contents >> Education and Training >> Participation in education and training

In May 2000, 2.5 million people aged 15-64 years had applied to enrol in a course of study for that year (table 10.35). Of all applicants, 89% gained a place and were studying.


10.35 PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION, Persons Aged 15-64 - May 2000

Males

'000
Females

'000
Persons

'000

Applied to enrol for 2000
1,199.2
1,328.6
2,527.8
- Studying in May 2000
1,080.1
1,176.3
2,256.4
- Gained placement but deferred study
76.5
108.9
185.4
- Unable to gain placement
42.6
43.4
86.0

Source: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (6227.0).

Between 1995 and 2000, the demand for education increased, as did the number of people being accepted into educational institutions. Although there was a rise in the number of enrolment applications across all age groups, there was a slight decrease in the number of people unable to get into courses (graph 10.36).




While participation in education may occur at any age, many young people continue in full-time education immediately after completing compulsory schooling, either in post-compulsory schooling or within other forms of education such as VET. Some young people also return to full-time study after a period of absence some time after completing compulsory schooling. In all, 70% of 15-19 year olds at May 2000 were in full-time education (including 51% still at school). At age 20-24 years, 22% were undertaking full-time study (including less than 1% still at school) and 13% were participating in part-time tertiary study (table 10.37).

Many people aged 25 years and over return to study, to upgrade their skills or to gain new skills, and often in conjunction with employment (see the article Combining work and study). The participation rate at May 2000 for people in this age group was higher for those in part-time study (6%) than for those in full-time study (2%).


10.37 EDUCATION PARTICIPATION RATES, Persons Aged 15-64 - May 2000

Age (years)

15–19

%
20–24

%
25-64

%

Attending school
50.7
*0.2
*0.1
Attending tertiary(a)
- Full-time
19.2
21.5
1.8
- Part-time
7.8
12.8
5.7
Total tertiary
27.0
34.3
7.5
Total attending
77.7
34.4
7.6
Not attending
22.4
65.7
92.4
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0

(a) Education institutions offering post-school courses.

Source: ABS data available on request, Transition from Education to Work Survey.


Educational attendance and the labour force

Graph 10.38 indicates the labour force status of all students aged 15-64 years at May 2000. Some 59% of school students were not in the labour force, while 34% were employed. In contrast, 25% of other students were not in the labour force and 68% were employed.




Most young people aged 15-19 years attending an educational institution to study for a recognised qualification at May 2000 were either not in the labour force at all (50%) or were employed part-time (35%). Some 36% of students aged 20-24 years were employed part-time, and another 29% were not in the labour force (table 10.39). In both age groups, students who undertook part-time study were more frequently employed full-time than part-time.

The 'full-time participation rate' describes the proportion of the population, at specific ages, in full-time education or training, or in full-time work, or in both part-time education or training and part-time work. The full-time participation rate identifies the proportion of the population which has a low risk of marginal participation or non-participation in the labour market, and consequently determines the proportion that is at risk. At May 2000 the full-time participation rate for people aged 15-19 years was 86%; for 20-24 year olds it was 76%.


10.39 PERSONS AGED 15-24, Whether Attended an Educational Institution(a) and Labour Force Status - May 2000

Attended an educational institution

Labour force status
Full-time
'000
Part-time
'000
Total
'000
Not attending
'000
Total
'000

15-19 YEARS

In the labour force
Employed
- Full-time
*4.4
74.5
78.9
147.4
226.4
- Part-time
341.4
13.2
354.6
72.4
427.0
Total
345.8
87.7
433.5
219.8
653.4
Unemployed
74.2
*2.8
77.1
56.2
133.3
Not in the labour force
498.3
*4.3
502.6
49.1
551.7
Total
918.4
94.8
1,013.2
325.1
1,338.3

20-24 YEARS

In the labour force
Employed
- Full-time
10.1
117.7
127.8
608.3
736.1
- Part-time
134.7
19.1
153.8
116.2
270.0
Total
144.8
136.7
281.6
724.5
1,006.1
Unemployed
16.6
8.1
24.7
83.8
108.5
Not in the labour force
117.8
5.9
123.7
104.4
228.1
Total
279.2
150.8
430.0
912.7
1,342.7

(a) To study for a recognised qualification.

Source: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (6227.0).





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