Bega Valley Shire

The labour force

The labour force section answers the question:

  • What are the characteristics of the local labour force?

The 'local labour force' differs from the 'workforce' as it includes all people who reside in the local area who are either employed or who are looking for work (unemployed). The local labour force is an important resource for the local economy as it represents the locally available human resources (skills, knowledge and experience) upon which the economy can draw. In a regional area, most industries rely on the local labour force to provide their workers, whereas in metropolitan areas, industries can draw on a labour pool that extends beyond the region.

Level of qualification

Derived from the Census question, 'What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?'

Education is an essential means of building the knowledge and skill levels of the labour force, which is a key factor in achieving future economic and social development. The level of Educational Qualifications in the labour force relate to a number of factors including:

  • the age structure of the labour force;
  • the professional or social ambitions of people to obtain qualifications (that is, to seek education and retraining);
  • the opportunities afforded to people to continue studying beyond compulsory schooling; and the knowledge and skill requirements of the local industries.

Educational Qualifications information should be looked at in conjunction with Income and Occupation data for a clearer picture of the knowledge and skill level of the labour force.

When comparing the Qualifications of people who reside in the local area (The Local Labour Force) with those who work in the local area (The Workforce), and viewed in conjunction with levels of employment self containment (Where do the residents work?), Qualifications data indicates whether an economy draws on the skills offered by its own residents or on a different set of skills imported from elsewhere in the region.

Data options:
Select gender:

Qualifications of the labour force Place of usual residence

Qualifications by gender of the labour force, Bega Valley Shire, 20062006
GenderField of studynumber%Regional NSW %
PersonsBachelor or Higher degree1,81213.514.7
PersonsAdvanced Diploma or Diploma1,0117.57.9
PersonsCertificate IV Level3462.62.9
PersonsCertificate III Level2,80020.919.4
PersonsCertificate I and II Level2481.91.9
PersonsCertificate Level, nfd3202.42.3
PersonsNo qualification5,99644.744.8
PersonsInadequately described/Not stated8676.56.0
PersonsTotal13,400100.0100.0
Qualifications of the labour force, Bega Valley Shire and Regional NSW 2006 Bachelor or Higher degree, Regional NSW: 14.7% Advanced Diploma or Diploma, Regional NSW: 7.9% Certificate IV Level, Regional NSW: 2.9% Certificate III Level, Regional NSW: 19.4% Certificate I and II Level, Regional NSW: 1.9% Certificate Level, nfd, Regional NSW: 2.3% No qualification, Regional NSW: 44.8% Inadequately described/Not stated, Regional NSW: 6.0% Bachelor or Higher degree, Bega Valley Shire: 13.5% Advanced Diploma or Diploma, Bega Valley Shire: 7.5% Certificate IV Level, Bega Valley Shire: 2.6% Certificate III Level, Bega Valley Shire: 20.9% Certificate I and II Level, Bega Valley Shire: 1.9% Certificate Level, nfd, Bega Valley Shire: 2.4% No qualification, Bega Valley Shire: 44.7% Inadequately described/Not stated, Bega Valley Shire: 6.5%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006.

Please refer to the specific data notes for more information.