Field of qualification presents the primary field of study for the highest qualification the person has received. While this is likely to have some relationship to their current occupation, this is not necessarily the case.
The presence of specific qualifications among Australia's resident workforce, which are not used by local industry, may indicate an opportunity for a new industry to move into the area and access a ready labour force.
The field of study relates to a number of factors, such as:
- The age of the population;
- The types of industries and occupations located in Australia or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of Australia, and;
- The mobility of the population to move where particular skills are required.
Field of Qualification should be looked at in conjunction with Qualification and Occupations statistics for a clearer picture of the skills available in the resident worker population.
Data source
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 and 2021 – by usual residence
Current area:
Current industry:
Current benchmark:
Sex:
| Resident workers field of qualification | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Australia BM | Number | % | Australia BM | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences | 283,931 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 231,078 | 2.2 | 2.2 | +52,853 | ||
| Information Technology | 380,707 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 274,920 | 2.6 | 2.6 | +105,787 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 1,261,729 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 1,170,252 | 11.0 | 11.0 | +91,477 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 520,986 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 474,190 | 4.4 | 4.4 | +46,796 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 189,222 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 168,841 | 1.6 | 1.6 | +20,381 | ||
| Health | 1,019,513 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 799,563 | 7.5 | 7.5 | +219,950 | ||
| Education | 695,241 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 586,184 | 5.5 | 5.5 | +109,057 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 1,928,451 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 1,592,259 | 14.9 | 14.9 | +336,192 | ||
| Society and Culture | 1,145,917 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 921,822 | 8.6 | 8.6 | +224,095 | ||
| Creative Arts | 370,442 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 290,657 | 2.7 | 2.7 | +79,785 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 437,102 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 384,833 | 3.6 | 3.6 | +52,269 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 9,034 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 10,572 | 0.1 | 0.1 | -1,538 | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 351,160 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 289,621 | 2.7 | 2.7 | +61,539 | ||
| No qualification | 3,455,939 | 28.7 | 28.7 | 3,489,058 | 32.7 | 32.7 | -33,119 | ||
| Total Persons | 12,049,374 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 10,683,850 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,365,524 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions) Please refer to specific data notes for more information | |||||||||
Dominant groups
Analysis of the field of qualifications in Australia shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Management and Commerce (1,928,451 people or 16.0%)
- Engineering and Related Technologies (1,261,729 people or 10.5%)
- Society and Culture (1,145,917 people or 9.5%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 4,336,097 people in total or 36.0% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, Australia BM employed 16.0% in Management and Commerce; 10.5% in Engineering and Related Technologies and 9.5% in Society and Culture.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers () of Australia and Australia BM were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Natural and Physical Sciences (2.4% compared to 2.4%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Information Technology (3.2% compared to 3.2%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Engineering and Related Technologies (10.5% compared to 10.5%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Architecture and Building (4.3% compared to 4.3%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in Australia increased by 1,365,524 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (All industries) between 2016 and 2021 in Australia was for those qualified in:
- Management and Commerce (+336,192 resident workers)
- Society and Culture (+224,095 resident workers)
- Health (+219,950 resident workers)
- Education (+109,057 resident workers)