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 Toowoomba'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 Toowoomba or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of Toowoomba, 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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toowoomba - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Queensland | Number | % | Queensland | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences | 1,048 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 919 | 1.3 | 1.7 | +129 | ||
| Information Technology | 1,130 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 798 | 1.1 | 1.8 | +332 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 8,934 | 11.2 | 11.0 | 8,514 | 12.0 | 11.6 | +420 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 3,268 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3,126 | 4.4 | 4.8 | +142 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 2,161 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1,888 | 2.7 | 1.5 | +273 | ||
| Health | 7,925 | 10.0 | 8.9 | 5,955 | 8.4 | 7.7 | +1,970 | ||
| Education | 5,517 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 4,788 | 6.7 | 5.6 | +729 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 9,998 | 12.6 | 14.7 | 8,399 | 11.8 | 13.5 | +1,599 | ||
| Society and Culture | 6,948 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 5,155 | 7.2 | 7.9 | +1,793 | ||
| Creative Arts | 1,315 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 1,054 | 1.5 | 2.2 | +261 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 3,440 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 2,818 | 4.0 | 4.0 | +622 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 78 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 81 | 0.1 | 0.1 | -3 | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 2,134 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 1,755 | 2.5 | 2.6 | +379 | ||
| No qualification | 25,616 | 32.2 | 30.6 | 25,934 | 36.4 | 35.0 | -318 | ||
| Total Persons | 79,512 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 71,184 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +8,328 | ||
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 Toowoomba shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Management and Commerce (9,998 people or 12.6%)
- Engineering and Related Technologies (8,934 people or 11.2%)
- Health (7,925 people or 10.0%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 26,857 people in total or 33.8% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, Queensland employed 14.7% in Management and Commerce; 11.0% in Engineering and Related Technologies and 8.9% in Health.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers () of Toowoomba and Queensland were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Management and Commerce (12.6% compared to 14.7%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies (2.7% compared to 1.5%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Health (10.0% compared to 8.9%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Education (6.9% compared to 5.9%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in Toowoomba increased by 8,328 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (All industries) between 2016 and 2021 in Toowoomba was for those qualified in:
- Health (+1,970 resident workers)
- Society and Culture (+1,793 resident workers)
- Management and Commerce (+1,599 resident workers)
- Education (+729 resident workers)