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 the Shire of Ashburton'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 the Shire of Ashburton or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of the Shire of Ashburton, 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 industry:
Current benchmark:
Sex:
| Resident workers field of qualification | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shire of Ashburton - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Western Australia | Number | % | Western Australia | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences | 52 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 104 | 1.3 | 2.5 | -52 | ||
| Information Technology | 18 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 61 | 0.7 | 1.8 | -43 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 916 | 23.9 | 13.6 | 3,055 | 36.8 | 14.1 | -2,139 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 208 | 5.4 | 4.0 | 529 | 6.4 | 4.3 | -321 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 57 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 96 | 1.2 | 1.6 | -39 | ||
| Health | 174 | 4.5 | 8.5 | 276 | 3.3 | 7.5 | -102 | ||
| Education | 222 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 254 | 3.1 | 5.8 | -32 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 368 | 9.6 | 13.9 | 571 | 6.9 | 13.0 | -203 | ||
| Society and Culture | 207 | 5.4 | 8.2 | 215 | 2.6 | 7.3 | -8 | ||
| Creative Arts | 35 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 58 | 0.7 | 2.1 | -23 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 156 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 297 | 3.6 | 3.7 | -141 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | -3 | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 166 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 230 | 2.8 | 2.5 | -64 | ||
| No qualification | 1,255 | 32.7 | 30.2 | 2,547 | 30.7 | 33.7 | -1,292 | ||
| Total Persons | 3,834 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 8,296 | 100.0 | 100.0 | -4,462 | ||
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 the Shire of Ashburton shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Engineering and Related Technologies (916 people or 23.9%)
- Management and Commerce (368 people or 9.6%)
- Education (222 people or 5.8%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 1,506 people in total or 39.3% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, Western Australia employed 13.6% in Engineering and Related Technologies; 13.9% in Management and Commerce and 6.0% in Education.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers () of the Shire of Ashburton and Western Australia were:
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Engineering and Related Technologies (23.9% compared to 13.6%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Management and Commerce (9.6% compared to 13.9%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Health (4.5% compared to 8.5%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Society and Culture (5.4% compared to 8.2%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in the Shire of Ashburton decreased by 4,462 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (All industries) between 2016 and 2021 in the Shire of Ashburton was for those qualified in:
- Engineering and Related Technologies (-2,139 resident workers)
- Architecture and Building (-321 resident workers)
- Management and Commerce (-203 resident workers)
- Food, Hospitality and Personal Services (-141 resident workers)