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43.0% of people in Canberra had a Bachelor or Higher degree qualification in 2021, higher than Tasmania. This represents an increase of 60,702 people since 2011.

Educational Qualifications relate to education outside of primary and secondary school and are one of the most important indicators of socio-economic status. With other data sources, such as Employment Status, Income and Occupation, Canberra's Educational Qualifications help to evaluate the economic opportunities and socio-economic status of the area and identify skill gaps in the labour market.

Learn more about planning education provision here.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?'

Highest qualification achieved
Canberra - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)20212011Change
Qualification levelNumber%Tasmania %Number%Tasmania %2011 to 2021
Bachelor or Higher degree159,42843.021.998,72634.014.2+60,702
Advanced Diploma or Diploma34,3709.37.926,0359.06.6+8,335
Vocational48,89013.221.939,01013.420.2+9,880
No qualification106,10228.640.0103,14735.548.8+2,955
Not stated22,2076.08.323,3548.010.2-1,147
Total persons aged 15+370,997100.0100.0290,272100.0100.0+80,725
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the qualifications of the population in Canberra in 2021 compared to Tasmania shows that there was a higher proportion of people holding formal qualifications (Bachelor or higher degree; Advanced Diploma or Diploma; or Vocational qualifications), and a lower proportion of people with no formal qualifications.

Overall, 65.4% of the population aged 15 and over held educational qualifications, and 28.6% had no qualifications, compared with 51.7% and 40.0% respectively for Tasmania.

The major differences between qualifications held by the population of Canberra and Tasmania were:

  • A larger percentage of persons with Bachelor or Higher degrees (43.0% compared to 21.9%)
  • A larger percentage of persons with Advanced Diploma or Diplomas (9.3% compared to 7.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons with No qualifications (28.6% compared to 40.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons with Vocational qualifications (13.2% compared to 21.9%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the qualifications of the population in Canberra between 2011 and 2021 were in those with:

  • Bachelor or Higher degrees (+60,702 persons)
  • Vocational qualifications (+9,880 persons)
  • Advanced Diploma or Diplomas (+8,335 persons)
  • No qualifications (+2,955 persons)

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