SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
ATTAINMENT OF NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATIONS
In May 2018, over two-thirds (66.7%) of Australians, or 9.8 million people aged 20 to 64 years had attained at least one non-school qualification. In the younger age groups, larger proportions of females had non-school qualifications compared with males. However, in the older age groups, a larger proportion of males than females had attained a non-school qualification. (Table 24 and Graph 1)
Source: Education and Work, Australia, 2018
Historically, males had a higher rate of attainment of non-school qualifications than females. Over the last 15 years the disparity between males and females has decreased and since 2016 they have been at about the same level. In 2018 females had a slightly higher rate of attainment but the difference is not statistically significant. (Table 24 and Graph 2)
Source: Education and Work, Australia, 2018
Of people aged 20 to 64 years who were employed, 71.4%, had attained a non-school qualification, compared with 58.0% of unemployed people and about half (49.9%) of people who were not in the labour force.
In some occupations, a larger proportion of males than females had attained a non-school qualification, including Sales Workers (57.3% compared with 49.6%) and Technicians and Trades Workers (78.4% compared with 73.5%). However, in the Professionals category, a larger proportion of females had attained a non-school qualification (93.8%) compared with males (90.1%). (Graph 3)
Source: Education and Work, Australia, 2018
PARTICIPATION IN FORMAL EDUCATION
In May 2018, of the estimated 16.2 million people aged 15 to 64 years in Australia, over 3 million, or nearly 1 in 5 (19.0%), were enrolled in formal study (including school study). The majority of 15 to 19 year olds (83.4%) were enrolled in formal study. This proportion declined sharply with age with 45.7% of those aged 20 to 24 years and 18.7% of those aged 25 to 29 years enrolled in formal study. Women had higher rates of participation across all age groups (Table 21 and Graph 4).
Source: Education and Work, Australia, 2018
TRANSITION TO FURTHER STUDY AND/OR EMPLOYMENT FOR 2017 SCHOOL LEAVERS
There were 302,400 people aged 15 to 20 years who were enrolled in secondary school in 2017 but not in May 2018. Of these school leavers, 77.6% had completed Year 12 or equivalent and 62.5% were currently enrolled in study at a non-school institution. The proportion of school leavers who were not studying was 37.6% and of these, the majority were employed, either full-time (29.4%) or part-time (34.0%), while 35.7% were not employed. (Table 17)
ENGAGEMENT IN EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION
In May 2018, there were 10.5 million (64.9%) people aged 15 to 64 years who were fully engaged in employment or study. Of those aged 15 to 24 years, 81.1% were fully engaged, 9.9% were partially engaged and 9.0% were not engaged. The number of men and women aged 15 to 19 years who were fully engaged in work or study was similar in 2018, however more men were fully engaged for all age groups above 15 to 19 years. (Table 32 and Graph 5)
Source: Education and Work, Australia, 2018
The proportion of fully engaged men and women aged 15 to 24 years, who are not studying at school, decreases as the level of remoteness increases. (Table 34)
More than three-quarters of men in Major Cities (79.3%) were fully engaged in work or study in 2018 compared with 71.3% in Inner Regional areas and 65.7% in Outer Regional/Remote and Very Remote areas. The rates for women were 75.9%, 54.8% and 51.0% respectively. (Graph 6)
Source: Education and Work, Australia, 2018
However, women had higher rates of being partially engaged than men and this increases as the area becomes more remote (13.4% in Major Cities, 23.4% in Inner Regional areas and 27.3% in Outer Regional/Remote and Very Remote areas). The rates for men were 10.5%, 13.9% and 15.2% respectively. (Graph 7)
Source: Education and Work, Australia, 2018
CURRENT APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES
In May 2018, there were 196,100 people aged 15 to 64 years who were employed as apprentices or trainees and were part of the Australian Apprenticeship Scheme. Of these, 98,600 people (50.3%) had commenced their apprenticeship or traineeship in the last 12 months. The majority of apprentices or trainees were male (84.0% compared with 16.0%). Of those employed as apprentices and trainees, nearly two-thirds (63.0%) are located in Capital Cities. As in previous years, construction was the most common industry for apprentices and trainees, with 44.1% employed in this industry. (Table 19)
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