6227.0 - Education and Work, Australia, May 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/11/2015   
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MEDIA RELEASE
27 November 2015
Embargo: 11:30 am (Canberra Time)
131/2015
Australians more educated than ever before

Australians are more educated than ever before, according to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

Education and Work, Australia, May 2015 (cat no. 6227.0) indicates that nearly six out of ten Australians have a qualification, and over one quarter have a degree.

The 2015 figures illustrate a substantial increase in education levels – especially for women – in contrast to those of the previous generation.

"Since 1990, the proportion of working aged women (15-64 years) with a degree has increased four-fold from around 7 per cent to 29 per cent, while the proportion of men has increased more slowly from 10 per cent to 24 per cent,” said Michelle Marquardt of the ABS.

“In those 25 years, the proportion of women of this age group with a qualification rose from 34 per cent to 60 per cent while the proportion of men with a qualification increased from 45 per cent to 61 per cent.”

Further details are available in Education and Work, Australia, May 2015 (cat no. 6227.0), available for free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au.


Media Notes:

    • Qualification refers to a non-school qualification such as a bachelor degree or a diploma.
    • Degree refers to bachelor degree or higher.
    • Unless otherwise specified the age scope for the data is 15 to 64 years.
    • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
    • Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.