Published Wednesday, 06 August, 2008 at 10:34 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Treasurer
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
Queenslanders: a highly skilled and ‘smart’ bunch
Just over half of all Queenslanders now have some sort of non-school educational qualification, proving residents are living up to their Smart State reputation.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser today released Queensland Treasury analysis of the 2006 Census which revealed that the number of Queenslanders with non-school qualifications increased over the last decade to 50.4 per cent.
Mr Fraser said that figure had jumped from 39.0 per cent at the 1996 Census.
“The rate of growth in non-school qualifications in Queensland has been faster than the national average with an increasing number of Queenslanders choosing to complete a certificate, bachelor degree, diploma or postgraduate degree.
“While 45.6 per cent of Queensland females have non-school qualifications, 55.3 per cent of males have non-school qualifications.
“The difference is largely explained by the fact that more than twice as many males than females hold certificate level or trade qualifications as their highest qualification,” Mr Fraser said.
On this front Queensland is also outpacing the nation with almost 18 per cent of Queenslanders holding a certificate level qualification as their highest non-school qualification compared with the national average of 16.7 per cent.
“This translates into an additional 118,000 people over the past five years with certificate level qualifications.”
Mr Fraser said while the Queensland labour market was still suffering from a skilled labour shortage, these numbers showed the Bligh government’s economic and training policies were paying dividends.
Additionally the number of people with postgraduate qualifications grew by a staggering 141.4 per cent over the past 10 years – faster than the national average.
“Just over 14 per cent of females have a bachelor degree or higher compared with almost 12 per cent of Queensland males,’’ he said.
“But interestingly Queensland men are also high achievers with 2.2 per cent holding a postgraduate qualification compared with 1.7 per cent of females.’’
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said while the analysis showed that retention rates for full time secondary students had fallen slightly, this could be explained by improved employment conditions.
“Queensland is enjoying exceptional employment growth so it’s really important the Government continues to provide options to encourage school leavers to consider going straight into the workforce or to pursue further study,’’ Mr Welford said.
“The increase in non-school qualifications shows more Queenslanders are embracing the Government’s philosophy of lifelong learning.
“Never before have Queenslanders had so many educational and training options from which to choose – from more vocational education opportunities for school students to increased recognition of prior learning qualifications for more experienced workers.’’
Other key findings of the OESR Education in Queensland Census Bulletin include:
• Indigenous education is on the rise, with more than one-third of Indigenous Queenslanders aged 15 years and over holding an educational qualification.
• Of all year 12 graduates, 93 per cent were either working or undertaking further study the following year.
• Rural Queensland tends to have a lower proportion of the population 15 years and over with a non-school qualification compared with cities or regional towns.
• Engineering and related technologies are the most popular qualification among males (30.4 per cent), followed by architecture and building (11.4 per cent), and management and commerce (10.3 per cent).
• Management and commerce appear to be the most popular qualifications pursued by women (19.8 per cent), health (14.2 per cent), education (12.5 per cent), and society and culture (11.9 per cent) are also strongly represented.
The Census 2006 bulletin Education in Queensland is published by Queensland Treasury’s Office of Economic and Statistical Research, and is available at www.oesr.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Minister Welford’s office - 323 54593
Treasurer’s office - 322 46361
Treasurer Andrew Fraser today released Queensland Treasury analysis of the 2006 Census which revealed that the number of Queenslanders with non-school qualifications increased over the last decade to 50.4 per cent.
Mr Fraser said that figure had jumped from 39.0 per cent at the 1996 Census.
“The rate of growth in non-school qualifications in Queensland has been faster than the national average with an increasing number of Queenslanders choosing to complete a certificate, bachelor degree, diploma or postgraduate degree.
“While 45.6 per cent of Queensland females have non-school qualifications, 55.3 per cent of males have non-school qualifications.
“The difference is largely explained by the fact that more than twice as many males than females hold certificate level or trade qualifications as their highest qualification,” Mr Fraser said.
On this front Queensland is also outpacing the nation with almost 18 per cent of Queenslanders holding a certificate level qualification as their highest non-school qualification compared with the national average of 16.7 per cent.
“This translates into an additional 118,000 people over the past five years with certificate level qualifications.”
Mr Fraser said while the Queensland labour market was still suffering from a skilled labour shortage, these numbers showed the Bligh government’s economic and training policies were paying dividends.
Additionally the number of people with postgraduate qualifications grew by a staggering 141.4 per cent over the past 10 years – faster than the national average.
“Just over 14 per cent of females have a bachelor degree or higher compared with almost 12 per cent of Queensland males,’’ he said.
“But interestingly Queensland men are also high achievers with 2.2 per cent holding a postgraduate qualification compared with 1.7 per cent of females.’’
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said while the analysis showed that retention rates for full time secondary students had fallen slightly, this could be explained by improved employment conditions.
“Queensland is enjoying exceptional employment growth so it’s really important the Government continues to provide options to encourage school leavers to consider going straight into the workforce or to pursue further study,’’ Mr Welford said.
“The increase in non-school qualifications shows more Queenslanders are embracing the Government’s philosophy of lifelong learning.
“Never before have Queenslanders had so many educational and training options from which to choose – from more vocational education opportunities for school students to increased recognition of prior learning qualifications for more experienced workers.’’
Other key findings of the OESR Education in Queensland Census Bulletin include:
• Indigenous education is on the rise, with more than one-third of Indigenous Queenslanders aged 15 years and over holding an educational qualification.
• Of all year 12 graduates, 93 per cent were either working or undertaking further study the following year.
• Rural Queensland tends to have a lower proportion of the population 15 years and over with a non-school qualification compared with cities or regional towns.
• Engineering and related technologies are the most popular qualification among males (30.4 per cent), followed by architecture and building (11.4 per cent), and management and commerce (10.3 per cent).
• Management and commerce appear to be the most popular qualifications pursued by women (19.8 per cent), health (14.2 per cent), education (12.5 per cent), and society and culture (11.9 per cent) are also strongly represented.
The Census 2006 bulletin Education in Queensland is published by Queensland Treasury’s Office of Economic and Statistical Research, and is available at www.oesr.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Minister Welford’s office - 323 54593
Treasurer’s office - 322 46361