Skills development

Access to education, skills development and learning throughout life

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Release date and time
15/09/2025 11:30am AEST

Released 15/09/2025

Metric

The share of adults (aged 15 to 74) who in the previous 12 months, participated in formal study which leads to a qualification recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework, or non‑formal learning (structured training or courses) that do not lead to a formal qualification

Why this matters

It is important for Australians to have access to training and upskilling so they can take advantage of emerging job opportunities throughout their working lives. This will also help to ensure that people and businesses can adapt to change.

Progress

In 2020–21, 42% of people aged 15 to 74 years had participated in formal study, non-formal learning, or both, in the last 12 months. This was a small increase from 41% in 2016-17, and a decrease from 46% in 2013.

  • One in five (21%) did formal study, no change from 2016-17 and a small decrease from 2013 (22%).
  • Just over a quarter (27%) did non-formal learning, a small increase from 2016-17 (26%), but a decrease from 2013 (32%).

From 2026 onwards, this indicator will be updated annually with data from the expanded General Social Survey.

  1. Comparing data from 2013 with data from the other survey years should be done with caution due to differences in survey methodologies.
  2. Components will not add to total as people may report participation in more than one category but will be counted once in total.
Data Source
ABS Work-Related Training and Adult Learning, Australia - Table 1

Differences across groups

In 2020-21, total participation in learning was: 

  • highest among 15-19 year olds (90%) and lowest among 65-74 year olds (11%)
  • higher among females (44%) than males (40%)
  • higher among people who were unemployed (52%) and employed (48%) than those not in the labour force (26%)
  • higher among people in major cities (44%) than people in inner regional (38%) and outer regional and remote areas (37%)
  • higher among those born in Australia (43%) than those born overseas (40%).
  • higher among people living in areas of least disadvantage (47%) than those in the areas of most disadvantage (33%), based on 2016 Index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (SEIFA) quintiles.

Disaggregation

Further information on skills development is available at ABS Work-Related Training and Adult Learning.

Disaggregation available includes:

  • Age
  • Sex
  • Labour force status
  • Education: Level of highest non-school qualification
  • Socioeconomic status: Index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (SEIFA)
  • Remoteness
  • Family composition of household
  • Household income
  • Country of birth.