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 City of Rockingham'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 City of Rockingham or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of the City of Rockingham, 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
Current industry:
Current benchmark:
Gender:
Resident workers field of qualification | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City of Rockingham - Persons | 2016 | 2011 | Change | ||||||
Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Western Australia | Number | % | Western Australia | 2011 - 2016 | ||
Natural and Physical Sciences | 772 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 597 | 1.2 | 2.3 | +175 | ||
Information Technology | 800 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 613 | 1.3 | 1.6 | +187 | ||
Engineering and Related Technologies | 9,068 | 16.5 | 14.1 | 8,051 | 16.7 | 13.8 | +1,017 | ||
Architecture and Building | 2,573 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 2,086 | 4.3 | 4.1 | +487 | ||
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 625 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 498 | 1.0 | 1.5 | +127 | ||
Health | 3,498 | 6.4 | 7.5 | 2,419 | 5.0 | 6.3 | +1,079 | ||
Education | 2,980 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 2,203 | 4.6 | 5.2 | +777 | ||
Management and Commerce | 5,626 | 10.3 | 13.0 | 4,264 | 8.9 | 11.4 | +1,362 | ||
Society and Culture | 3,773 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 2,734 | 5.7 | 6.2 | +1,039 | ||
Creative Arts | 752 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 550 | 1.1 | 1.9 | +202 | ||
Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 2,422 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 1,945 | 4.0 | 3.4 | +477 | ||
Mixed Field Programmes | 57 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 27 | 0.1 | 0.1 | +30 | ||
Not stated or inadequately described | 1,382 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1,688 | 3.5 | 3.2 | -306 | ||
No qualification | 20,512 | 37.4 | 33.7 | 20,423 | 42.5 | 38.9 | +89 | ||
Total Persons | 54,840 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 48,098 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +6,742 | ||
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 City of Rockingham shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Engineering and Related Technologies (9,068 people or 16.5%)
- Management and Commerce (5,626 people or 10.3%)
- Society and Culture (3,773 people or 6.9%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 18,467 people in total or 33.7% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, Western Australia employed 14.1% in Engineering and Related Technologies; 13.0% in Management and Commerce and 7.3% in Society and Culture.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers () of the City of Rockingham and Western Australia were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Management and Commerce (10.3% compared to 13.0%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Engineering and Related Technologies (16.5% compared to 14.1%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Health (6.4% compared to 7.5%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Natural and Physical Sciences (1.4% compared to 2.5%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in the City of Rockingham increased by 6,742 between 2011 and 2016.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (All industries) between 2011 and 2016 in the City of Rockingham was for those qualified in:
- Management and Commerce (+1,362 resident workers)
- Health (+1,079 resident workers)
- Society and Culture (+1,039 resident workers)
- Engineering and Related Technologies (+1,017 resident workers)