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 Sunshine Coast'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 Sunshine Coast or within commuting distance, and their qualification requirements;
- The availability of educational institutions with those curricula nearby;
- The socio-economic status of Sunshine Coast, 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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Field of qualification (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Queensland | Number | % | Queensland | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences | 2,513 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1,719 | 1.3 | 1.7 | +794 | ||
| Information Technology | 2,181 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 1,486 | 1.1 | 1.8 | +695 | ||
| Engineering and Related Technologies | 15,454 | 9.6 | 11.0 | 13,252 | 10.2 | 11.6 | +2,202 | ||
| Architecture and Building | 10,049 | 6.3 | 4.5 | 8,776 | 6.8 | 4.8 | +1,273 | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 2,810 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2,311 | 1.8 | 1.5 | +499 | ||
| Health | 17,384 | 10.8 | 8.9 | 12,081 | 9.3 | 7.7 | +5,303 | ||
| Education | 10,666 | 6.7 | 5.9 | 8,414 | 6.5 | 5.6 | +2,252 | ||
| Management and Commerce | 21,734 | 13.6 | 14.7 | 15,912 | 12.3 | 13.5 | +5,822 | ||
| Society and Culture | 14,455 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 10,159 | 7.8 | 7.9 | +4,296 | ||
| Creative Arts | 4,307 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 3,082 | 2.4 | 2.2 | +1,225 | ||
| Food, Hospitality and Personal Services | 7,783 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 6,223 | 4.8 | 4.0 | +1,560 | ||
| Mixed Field Programmes | 154 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 125 | 0.1 | 0.1 | +29 | ||
| Not stated or inadequately described | 4,685 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3,019 | 2.3 | 2.6 | +1,666 | ||
| No qualification | 46,110 | 28.8 | 30.6 | 43,066 | 33.2 | 35.0 | +3,044 | ||
| Total Persons | 160,285 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 129,625 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +30,660 | ||
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 Sunshine Coast shows that the three largest fields the resident workers (All industries) were qualified in were:
- Management and Commerce (21,734 people or 13.6%)
- Health (17,384 people or 10.8%)
- Engineering and Related Technologies (15,454 people or 9.6%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 54,572 people in total or 34.0% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, Queensland employed 14.7% in Management and Commerce; 8.9% in Health and 11.0% in Engineering and Related Technologies.
The major differences between the field of qualifications held by the resident workers () of Sunshine Coast and Queensland were:
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Health (10.8% compared to 8.9%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Architecture and Building (6.3% compared to 4.5%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Engineering and Related Technologies (9.6% compared to 11.0%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) qualified in Management and Commerce (13.6% compared to 14.7%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in Sunshine Coast increased by 30,660 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest change in the field of qualifications held by the resident workers (All industries) between 2016 and 2021 in Sunshine Coast was for those qualified in:
- Management and Commerce (+5,822 resident workers)
- Health (+5,303 resident workers)
- Society and Culture (+4,296 resident workers)
- Education (+2,252 resident workers)