SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


PARTICIPATION

In May 2009, there were 14.2 million people aged 15-64 years (Table 2) and 270,400 people aged 65-74 years in the labour force or marginally attached to the labour force (Table 16) who were in the scope of the survey.

Of those aged 15-64 years, 2.7 million (19%) were enrolled in a course of study. Approximately 1.0 million (38%) of these enrolled people were attending a higher education institution, 740,000 (28%) were at school, 575,500 (21%) were at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions, and 338,600 (13%) were at other educational institutions. (Table 1)

In May 2009, 52% of people aged 15-64 years enrolled in a course of study were female, 42% were aged 15-19 years, and 64% were studying full-time (Table 1).


Study for a qualification

Approximately 96% (2.6 million) of people aged 15-64 years who were enrolled in a course of study were enrolled in a course for a qualification (Table 1). The proportion of people aged 15-64 years who were enrolled in a course for a qualification increased from 17% in 2001 to 18% in 2009. For females aged 15-64 years, approximately 17% were enrolled in a course of study for a qualification in 2001, compared to 19% in 2009. Male enrolments in a course of study for a qualification were 17% in 2001 and 18% in 2009. (Table 2)

Two in five (40%) people aged 15-64 years enrolled in a non-school qualification were studying for a Bachelor Degree. Almost half of these people (48%) were aged 20-24 years and 26% were aged 15-19 years. Of the 977,400 females aged 15-64 years enrolled in a non-school qualification, 56% were completing a Bachelor Degree or higher qualification, compared to 52% of 848,000 males. (Table 3)

The most commonly reported main field of education of current study for people aged 15-64 years enrolled in a non-school qualification was Management and commerce (26%), followed by Society and culture (19%). Over one-fifth (21%) of males aged 15-64 years enrolled in a non-school qualification were studying in the main field of Engineering and related technologies, compared to 2% of females aged 15-64 years. Of the 352,900 people aged 15-64 years enrolled in the field of Society and culture, 70% were female (Table 4). People studying in the main field of Information technology decreased from 9% of persons aged 15-64 years enrolled in a non-school qualification in 2001 to 3% in 2009. (Table 7)


ATTAINMENT

Level of highest non-school qualification

The proportion of people aged 15-64 years with a non-school qualification increased from 47% in May 2001 to 55% in May 2009, with the proportion of people with a Bachelor Degree or above increasing from 17% in May 2001 to 23% in May 2009. The proportion of people whose highest non-school qualification was an Advanced Diploma or below increased from 29% in May 2001 to 31% in May 2009. The proportion of people aged 20-24 with a non-school qualification has not changed significantly between May 2001 (43%) and May 2009 (44%), while the proportion of people aged 25-34 with a non-school qualification increased from 59% in May 2001 to 69% in May 2009. (Table 8)

Of the 7.8 million people aged 15-64 years with a non-school qualification, 83% were employed, compared to 64% without a non-school qualification. Over three-quarters (77%) of employed people with a non-school qualification were employed full-time, compared to 62% of employed people without a non-school qualification. (Table 10)

In May 2009, 10.7 million people aged 15-74 years were employed. Of these people, those whose highest non-school qualification was a Postgraduate Degree were more likely to be employed as Professionals (60%) and Managers (19%). People without a non-school qualification were more likely to be employed as Clerical and administrative workers (19%) and Labourers (18%). (Table 11)

Among the 7.8 million people aged 15-64 years in May 2009 with a non-school qualification, the most commonly reported main fields of education for the highest non-school qualification were Management and commerce (1.8 million or 24%) and Engineering and related technologies (1.4 million or 18%). In May 2009, more males than females aged 15-64 years had a non-school qualification (4.0 million and 3.8 million respectively). Out of the total number of females in each age group within the survey, the highest proportion (70%) of females with a non-school qualification were aged 25-34 years, with the next highest proportion being 61% of females aged 35-44 years. The proportion of males with a non-school qualification was 67% for those aged 25-34 years and 35-44 years. (Table 2 and Table 12)


Level of highest educational attainment

Almost one-third (31%) of people aged 15-64 years reported their level of highest educational attainment as Year 11 or below and 21% reported Year 12. Additionally, almost one in four (23%) had a highest level of attainment of Bachelor Degree or above and 16% had a Certificate III or IV. Compared to all Australian states and the Northern Territory, a higher proportion of people in the ACT reported Bachelor Degree and above levels of educational attainment. Almost two-fifths (39%) of people in the ACT had a Bachelor Degree or above as their highest level of educational attainment. (Table 14)

In May 2009, of the 1.5 million people aged 65-74 years, 270,400 (18%) were in the labour force or marginally attached to the labour force. Of these, 19% had a Bachelor Degree or above. Over two-fifths (41%) reported their level of highest educational attainment as Year 11 or below. (Table 16)


TRANSITION FROM EDUCATION TO WORK

Completing a non-school course of study

In May 2009, there were 919,700 people aged 15-64 years who were enrolled in a non-school qualification in 2008 but were not enrolled in May 2009. These people were more likely to be employed full-time in May 2009 than the general population (57% compared with 53%). (Table 10 and Table 17)


School leavers

In May 2009, there were 322,600 people aged 15-24 years who were enrolled in secondary school in 2008 but were not in May 2009. Of these school leavers, about half (53%) were enrolled at a non-school institution in 2009 and 28% were employed and not studying. In 2009, 19% of school leavers aged 15-24 years were not engaged in education or work, which is 63% higher than in 2008 (ABS 2008). (Table 20)


APPRENTICES

Between May 2008 and May 2009, the number of people aged 15-64 years who were employed as apprentices and part of the Australian Apprenticeship Scheme reduced from 188,700 to 163,000. During this period, the number of males employed as apprentices decreased by 17% from 166,400 to 138,500. The number of apprentices within the Automotive and engineering Field of trade decreased by 29%. (Table 22)

The number of people who applied for but did not gain a place for an apprenticeship/traineeship increased from 26,900 in May 2008 to 41,200 in May 2009, with unsuccessful male applicants increasing from 18,200 to 28,900. Between May 2008 and May 2009, the number of people who applied for but were unsuccessful in gaining a place for an apprenticeship/traineeship increased by 81% for people aged 15-24 years. (Table 23)