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 Northam'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 Northam 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 Northam, 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 Northam - 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 | 62 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 43 | 1.0 | 2.5 | +19 | ||
| Information Technology | 35 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 33 | 0.8 | 1.8 | +2 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 564 | 12.3 | 13.6 | 590 | 13.6 | 14.1 | -26 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 183 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 162 | 3.7 | 4.3 | +21 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 117 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 126 | 2.9 | 1.6 | -9 | ||
| Health | 286 | 6.3 | 8.5 | 258 | 5.9 | 7.5 | +28 | ||
| Education | 246 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 234 | 5.4 | 5.8 | +12 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 461 | 10.1 | 13.9 | 377 | 8.7 | 13.0 | +84 | ||
| Society and Culture | 299 | 6.5 | 8.2 | 276 | 6.3 | 7.3 | +23 | ||
| Creative Arts | 57 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 47 | 1.1 | 2.1 | +10 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 149 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 139 | 3.2 | 3.7 | +10 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | -2 | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 143 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 176 | 4.0 | 2.5 | -33 | ||
| No qualification | 1,967 | 43.0 | 30.2 | 1,881 | 43.3 | 33.7 | +86 | ||
| Total Persons | 4,572 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 4,347 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +225 | ||
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 Northam shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Engineering and Related Technologies (564 people or 12.3%)
- Management and Commerce (461 people or 10.1%)
- Society and Culture (299 people or 6.5%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 1,324 people in total or 28.9% 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 8.2% in Society and Culture.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers () of the Shire of Northam and Western Australia were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Management and Commerce (10.1% compared to 13.9%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Health (6.3% compared to 8.5%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Society and Culture (6.5% compared to 8.2%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Information Technology (0.8% compared to 2.1%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in the Shire of Northam increased by 225 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 Northam was for those qualified in:
- Management and Commerce (+84 resident workers)
- Not stated or inadequately described (-33 resident workers)
- Health (+28 resident workers)
- Engineering and Related Technologies (-26 resident workers)