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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 17 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 12 | 0.3 | 0.6 | +5 | ||
| Information Technology | 30 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 27 | 0.6 | 1.1 | +3 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 1,388 | 30.7 | 25.2 | 1,204 | 28.2 | 26.1 | +184 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 42 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 38 | 0.9 | 1.3 | +4 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 44 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 57 | 1.3 | 0.8 | -13 | ||
| Health | 103 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 81 | 1.9 | 2.1 | +22 | ||
| Education | 88 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 69 | 1.6 | 1.8 | +19 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 269 | 5.9 | 8.4 | 217 | 5.1 | 6.7 | +52 | ||
| Society and Culture | 368 | 8.1 | 9.0 | 307 | 7.2 | 7.1 | +61 | ||
| Creative Arts | 28 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 29 | 0.7 | 1.3 | -1 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 749 | 16.5 | 17.5 | 639 | 15.0 | 16.3 | +110 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | -- | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 81 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 105 | 2.5 | 2.9 | -24 | ||
| No qualification | 1,320 | 29.2 | 27.2 | 1,481 | 34.7 | 31.7 | -161 | ||
| Total Persons | 4,527 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 4,266 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +261 | ||
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 (Other Services) were qualified in were:
- Engineering and Related Technologies (1,388 people or 30.7%)
- Food, Hospitality and Personal Services (749 people or 16.5%)
- Society and Culture (368 people or 8.1%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 2,505 people in total or 55.3% of the resident workers (Other Services).
In comparison, Queensland employed 25.2% in Engineering and Related Technologies; 17.5% in Food, Hospitality and Personal Services and 9.0% in Society and Culture.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (Other Services) of the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region and Queensland were:
- A larger percentage of resident workers (Other Services) qualified in Engineering and Related Technologies (30.7% compared to 25.2%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (Other Services) qualified in Management and Commerce (5.9% compared to 8.4%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (Other Services) qualified in Creative Arts (0.6% compared to 1.7%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (Other Services) qualified in Food, Hospitality and Personal Services (16.5% compared to 17.5%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (Other Services) in the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region increased by 261 between 2011 and 2016.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (Other Services) between 2011 and 2016 in the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region was for those qualified in:
- Engineering and Related Technologies (+184 resident workers)
- Food, Hospitality and Personal Services (+110 resident workers)
- Society and Culture (+61 resident workers)
- Management and Commerce (+52 resident workers)