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 Cairns'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 Cairns or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of Cairns, 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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Queensland | Number | % | Queensland | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences | 1,444 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1,199 | 1.7 | 1.7 | +245 | ||
| Information Technology | 914 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 780 | 1.1 | 1.8 | +134 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 9,050 | 11.4 | 11.0 | 8,827 | 12.2 | 11.6 | +223 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 3,568 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3,486 | 4.8 | 4.8 | +82 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 1,163 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1,060 | 1.5 | 1.5 | +103 | ||
| Health | 8,035 | 10.1 | 8.9 | 6,264 | 8.7 | 7.7 | +1,771 | ||
| Education | 5,130 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 4,412 | 6.1 | 5.6 | +718 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 10,352 | 13.0 | 14.7 | 9,026 | 12.5 | 13.5 | +1,326 | ||
| Society and Culture | 7,817 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 5,922 | 8.2 | 7.9 | +1,895 | ||
| Creative Arts | 1,475 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 1,223 | 1.7 | 2.2 | +252 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 4,259 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 3,760 | 5.2 | 4.0 | +499 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 63 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 69 | 0.1 | 0.1 | -6 | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 2,416 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2,020 | 2.8 | 2.6 | +396 | ||
| No qualification | 23,960 | 30.1 | 30.6 | 24,355 | 33.6 | 35.0 | -395 | ||
| Total Persons | 79,646 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 72,403 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +7,243 | ||
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 Cairns shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Management and Commerce (10,352 people or 13.0%)
- Engineering and Related Technologies (9,050 people or 11.4%)
- Health (8,035 people or 10.1%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 27,437 people in total or 34.4% 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 Cairns and Queensland were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Management and Commerce (13.0% compared to 14.7%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Health (10.1% compared to 8.9%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Food, Hospitality and Personal Services (5.3% compared to 4.2%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Information Technology (1.1% compared to 2.1%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in Cairns increased by 7,243 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (All industries) between 2016 and 2021 in Cairns was for those qualified in:
- Society and Culture (+1,895 resident workers)
- Health (+1,771 resident workers)
- Management and Commerce (+1,326 resident workers)
- Education (+718 resident workers)