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 Greater Sydney'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 Greater Sydney or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of Greater Sydney, 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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Sydney - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | New South Wales | Number | % | New South Wales | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences | 63,797 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 53,622 | 2.5 | 2.1 | +10,175 | ||
| Information Technology | 116,594 | 5.1 | 3.7 | 85,640 | 4.0 | 3.0 | +30,954 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 215,732 | 9.5 | 10.0 | 204,895 | 9.6 | 10.4 | +10,837 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 87,543 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 84,907 | 4.0 | 4.4 | +2,636 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 19,451 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 18,706 | 0.9 | 1.5 | +745 | ||
| Health | 171,096 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 139,386 | 6.5 | 7.1 | +31,710 | ||
| Education | 116,165 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 103,026 | 4.8 | 5.4 | +13,139 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 491,604 | 21.6 | 18.3 | 424,963 | 19.9 | 17.1 | +66,641 | ||
| Society and Culture | 230,783 | 10.1 | 9.7 | 198,898 | 9.3 | 8.8 | +31,885 | ||
| Creative Arts | 94,143 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 80,721 | 3.8 | 3.1 | +13,422 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 61,926 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 62,781 | 2.9 | 3.3 | -855 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 1,658 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2,345 | 0.1 | 0.1 | -687 | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 62,504 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 54,874 | 2.6 | 2.7 | +7,630 | ||
| No qualification | 546,803 | 24.0 | 27.0 | 618,261 | 29.0 | 31.1 | -71,458 | ||
| Total Persons | 2,279,799 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,133,025 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +146,774 | ||
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 Greater Sydney shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Management and Commerce (491,604 people or 21.6%)
- Society and Culture (230,783 people or 10.1%)
- Engineering and Related Technologies (215,732 people or 9.5%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 938,119 people in total or 41.1% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, New South Wales employed 18.3% in Management and Commerce; 9.7% in Society and Culture and 10.0% in Engineering and Related Technologies.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers () of Greater Sydney and New South Wales were:
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Management and Commerce (21.6% compared to 18.3%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Information Technology (5.1% compared to 3.7%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Creative Arts (4.1% compared to 3.4%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies (0.9% compared to 1.5%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in Greater Sydney increased by 146,774 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (All industries) between 2016 and 2021 in Greater Sydney was for those qualified in:
- Management and Commerce (+66,641 resident workers)
- Society and Culture (+31,885 resident workers)
- Health (+31,710 resident workers)
- Information Technology (+30,954 resident workers)