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 Canberra Region'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 Canberra Region or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of the Canberra Region, 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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra Region - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | NSW | Number | % | NSW | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences | 3,029 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2,568 | 1.7 | 2.1 | +461 | ||
| Information Technology | 3,133 | 1.8 | 3.7 | 2,186 | 1.4 | 3.0 | +947 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 17,351 | 9.9 | 10.0 | 16,144 | 10.5 | 10.4 | +1,207 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 9,409 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 8,030 | 5.2 | 4.4 | +1,379 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 5,629 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 5,258 | 3.4 | 1.5 | +371 | ||
| Health | 13,820 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 10,944 | 7.1 | 7.1 | +2,876 | ||
| Education | 10,927 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 9,101 | 5.9 | 5.4 | +1,826 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 23,060 | 13.2 | 18.3 | 18,764 | 12.2 | 17.1 | +4,296 | ||
| Society and Culture | 16,600 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 13,348 | 8.7 | 8.8 | +3,252 | ||
| Creative Arts | 3,997 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 3,037 | 2.0 | 3.1 | +960 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 7,066 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 6,157 | 4.0 | 3.3 | +909 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 160 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 130 | 0.1 | 0.1 | +30 | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 5,292 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 4,812 | 3.1 | 2.7 | +480 | ||
| No qualification | 55,661 | 31.8 | 27.0 | 53,256 | 34.6 | 31.1 | +2,405 | ||
| Total Persons | 175,134 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 153,735 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +21,399 | ||
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 Canberra Region shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Management and Commerce (23,060 people or 13.2%)
- Engineering and Related Technologies (17,351 people or 9.9%)
- Society and Culture (16,600 people or 9.5%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 57,011 people in total or 32.5% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, NSW employed 18.3% in Management and Commerce; 10.0% in Engineering and Related Technologies and 9.7% in Society and Culture.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers () of the Canberra Region and NSW were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Management and Commerce (13.2% compared to 18.3%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Information Technology (1.8% compared to 3.7%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies (3.2% compared to 1.5%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Creative Arts (2.3% compared to 3.4%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in the Canberra Region increased by 21,399 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 Canberra Region was for those qualified in:
- Management and Commerce (+4,296 resident workers)
- Society and Culture (+3,252 resident workers)
- Health (+2,876 resident workers)
- Education (+1,826 resident workers)