RDA Darling Downs and South West Region
Resident workers - Field of qualification
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 RDA Darling Downs and South West 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 RDA Darling Downs and South West Region or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of the RDA Darling Downs and South West 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 2011 and 2016 – by usual residence
Resident workers field of qualification | |||||||||
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RDA Darling Downs and South West Region - Persons | 2016 | 2011 | Change | ||||||
Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Queensland | Number | % | Queensland | 2011 - 2016 | ||
Natural and Physical Sciences | 24 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 16 | 1.1 | 1.6 | +8 | ||
Information Technology | 13 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 9 | 0.6 | 2.1 | +4 | ||
Engineering and Related Technologies | 751 | 47.3 | 37.4 | 624 | 43.0 | 36.1 | +127 | ||
Architecture and Building | 86 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 52 | 3.6 | 3.7 | +34 | ||
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 28 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 30 | 2.1 | 1.7 | -2 | ||
Health | 14 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 17 | 1.2 | 1.1 | -3 | ||
Education | 11 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | +2 | ||
Management and Commerce | 150 | 9.5 | 16.2 | 172 | 11.8 | 15.3 | -22 | ||
Society and Culture | 30 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 11 | 0.8 | 2.7 | +19 | ||
Creative Arts | 13 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 7 | 0.5 | 1.0 | +6 | ||
Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 18 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 28 | 1.9 | 1.3 | -10 | ||
Mixed Field Programmes | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | -- | ||
Not stated or inadequately described | 46 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 34 | 2.3 | 2.7 | +12 | ||
No qualification | 403 | 25.4 | 26.1 | 443 | 30.5 | 29.9 | -40 | ||
Total Persons | 1,587 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,452 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +135 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2016. 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 RDA Darling Downs and South West Region shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) were qualified in were:
- Engineering and Related Technologies (751 people or 47.3%)
- Management and Commerce (150 people or 9.5%)
- Architecture and Building (86 people or 5.4%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 987 people in total or 62.2% of the resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services).
In comparison, Queensland employed 37.4% in Engineering and Related Technologies; 16.2% in Management and Commerce and 4.4% in Architecture and Building.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) of the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region and Queensland were:
- A larger percentage of resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) qualified in Engineering and Related Technologies (47.3% compared to 37.4%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) qualified in Management and Commerce (9.5% compared to 16.2%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) qualified in Information Technology (0.8% compared to 2.1%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) qualified in Architecture and Building (5.4% compared to 4.4%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) in the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region increased by 135 between 2011 and 2016.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services) between 2011 and 2016 in the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region was for those qualified in:
- Engineering and Related Technologies (+127 resident workers)
- Architecture and Building (+34 resident workers)
- Management and Commerce (-22 resident workers)
- Society and Culture (+19 resident workers)