The following symbols and abbreviations are used in this publication:
| ABS | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| ABSCQ | Australian Bureau of Statistics Classification of Qualifications |
| ANZSIC | Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification |
| ASCED | Australian Standard Classification of Education |
| ASCO | Australian Standard Classification of Occupations |
| ASGC | Australian Standard Geographical Classification |
| CD | Collection District |
| CURF | Confidentialised Unit Record File |
| HECS | Higher Education Contribution Scheme |
| n.f.d. | not further defined |
| RSE | relative standard error |
| SAS | software package for preparing and executing computerised data analysis |
| SE | standard error |
| SET | Survey of Education and Training |
| SEW | Survey of Education and Work |
| SPSS | software package for preparing and executing computerised data analysis |
| TAFE | Technical and Further Education |