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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn Australia, 58.3% of females aged over 15 years had completed Year 12 schooling (or equivalent) as of 2021. This was less than Greater Capital Cities.
Australia's school completion data is a useful indicator of socio-economic status. With other indicators, such as Proficiency in English, the data informs planners and decision-makers about people's ability to access services. Combined with Educational Qualifications it also allows assessment of the skill base of the population.
Q:
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?'
| Highest level of secondary schooling completed | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - Total females (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Level of schooling | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Year 8 or below | 424,846 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 475,663 | 4.9 | 4.7 | -50,817 |
| Year 9 or equivalent | 524,435 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 522,750 | 5.4 | 4.5 | +1,685 |
| Year 10 or equivalent | 1,828,836 | 17.2 | 14.2 | 1,813,253 | 18.6 | 15.6 | +15,583 |
| Year 11 or equivalent | 881,982 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 844,910 | 8.7 | 8.1 | +37,072 |
| Year 12 or equivalent | 6,191,560 | 58.3 | 63.4 | 5,170,027 | 53.1 | 58.4 | +1,021,533 |
| Did not go to school | 110,999 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 91,375 | 0.9 | 1.2 | +19,624 |
| Not stated | 660,831 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 813,504 | 8.4 | 7.5 | -152,673 |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 10,623,489 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 9,731,482 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +892,007 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the highest level of schooling attained by the female population in Australia in 2021 compared to Greater Capital Cities shows that there was a higher proportion of females who had left school at an early level (Year 10 or less) and a lower proportion of females who completed Year 12 or equivalent.
Overall, 27.2% of the female population left school at Year 10 or below, and 58.3% went on to complete Year 12 or equivalent, compared with 23.6% and 63.4% respectively for Greater Capital Cities.
The major differences between the level of schooling attained by the female population in Australia and Greater Capital Cities were:
- A larger percentage of females who completed year 10 or equivalent (17.2% compared to 14.2%)
- A smaller percentage of females who completed year 12 or equivalent (58.3% compared to 63.4%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the level of schooling attained by the female population in Australia, between 2016 and 2021 were:
- Year 12 or equivalent (+1,021,533 females)
- Year 8 or below (-50,817 females)
- Year 11 or equivalent (+37,072 females)
- Did not go to school (+19,624 females)
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