Non-school qualification: level of education (QALLP)

This variable describes the level of a person’s highest completed non-school qualification. Non-school qualifications are educational attainments other than those of a pre-primary, primary or secondary education level. This information about education will help to:

• build a picture of educational levels in each area of Australia
• show how different groups of people take part in education
• help to plan education services in different areas.

Persons aged 15 years and over who stated a completed qualification

Non-school qualification: level of education (QALLP) is coded using the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED), 2001, Level of Education Classification.

This variable is mainly coded based on written responses for qualification level and qualification field questions. The following questions may also be used:

• Highest year of primary or secondary school completed
• Qualification indicator (question asking whether a person has completed any educational qualification)
• Whether the qualification was completed before 1998 

A question relating to level of education was first asked in the 1911 Census and has been asked in every Census since then. In many Censuses, school and non-school qualification were not necessarily separate questions.

In 2001, the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) replaced the ABS Classification of Qualifications (ABSCQ).

In the 2006 Census, the year completed question was reworded to ask if the qualification was obtained before 1998 or from 1998 onward, with 1998 being the year the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) was introduced. The distinction between certificates awarded pre-1998 and from 1998 onward is also used to assist in coding some certificates to finer levels of the ASCED classification.

In 2021, a new qualification called Undergraduate certificates will be coded to ‘420 Diploma Level, nfd’.

When using this variable, the directly applicable population (i.e. those who answered 'Yes' to the Qualifications indicator question) is not identifiable in the output data set. This is because those who answered 'Yes, other qualification' to the Qualifications indicator question, and then subsequently did not provide a response to the question on level of highest qualification, are coded to 'not stated' in this variable. Therefore, this variable cannot be used as a count of people who hold a qualification.

The non-response rate for Non-school qualification: level of education (QALLP) was 12.4% in 2021. This is a decrease from 16.0% in 2016.

A large component of non-response for this variable is due to people not answering the Qualification Indicator question and the Non-school qualification: level of education questions. People may have: 

• not seen the question relevant to themselves, and did not respond 
• been imputed into occupied dwellings where no form had been returned.

It may not be appropriate to consider these groups of non-respondents when calculating non-response for the directly applicable population.

When Non-school qualification: level of education (QALLP) is analysed in conjunction with a 'Yes' response to the Qualifications Indicator question, the non-response rate was 2.3% in 2021. This is a decrease from 2.8% in 2016.

• Non-school qualification: field of study (QALFP)
• Level of highest educational attainment (HEAP)
• Highest year of school completed (HSCP)
• Attainment of year 12 or certificate II or higher (YR12C2P)
• Attainment of year 12 or certificate III or higher (YR12C3P)
• Attainment of certificate III or higher or working towards a non-school qualification (C3SP)
• With or working towards a non-school qualification (WTNSQP)
• Or equivalent level of education

• Closing the Gap and Other National Government Reporting
• Education
• Education and training: Census