Western Sydney (LGA)Community profile
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Western Sydney (LGA)

Qualifications

20.9% of people in the Western Sydney (LGA) had a Bachelor or Higher degree qualification in 2016, lower than Georges River Council area. This represents an increase of 103,746 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, the Western Sydney (LGA)'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.

Derived from the Census question:

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

Persons aged 15 years and over

Highest qualification achieved
Western Sydney (LGA) - Persons aged 15+ (Enumerated)20162011Change
Qualification levelNumber%Georges River Council area %Number%Georges River Council area %2011 to 2016
Bachelor or Higher degree379,84620.930.1276,10017.025.7+103,746
Advanced Diploma or Diploma162,2938.99.7131,6688.19.7+30,624
Vocational305,44616.813.0271,14816.713.8+34,297
No qualification804,69344.339.5767,94147.241.2+36,751
Not stated165,7649.17.7179,48511.09.6-13,722

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Highest qualification achieved, 2016
Highest qualification achieved, 2016 Not stated, Georges River Council area: 7.7% No qualification, Georges River Council area: 39.5% Vocational, Georges River Council area: 13.0% Advanced Diploma or Diploma, Georges River Council area: 9.7% Bachelor or Higher degree, Georges River Council area: 30.1% Not stated, Western Sydney (LGA): 9.1% No qualification, Western Sydney (LGA): 44.3% Vocational, Western Sydney (LGA): 16.8% Advanced Diploma or Diploma, Western Sydney (LGA): 8.9% Bachelor or Higher degree, Western Sydney (LGA): 20.9%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2016 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Change in highest qualification achieved, 2011 to 2016
Change in highest qualification achieved, 2011 to 2016 Not stated, Western Sydney (LGA): -13,722 No qualification, Western Sydney (LGA): +36,751 Vocational, Western Sydney (LGA): +34,297 Advanced Diploma or Diploma, Western Sydney (LGA): +30,624 Bachelor or Higher degree, Western Sydney (LGA): +103,746
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2011 and 2016 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

Dominant groups

Analysis of the qualifications of the population in the Western Sydney (LGA) in 2016 compared to Georges River Council area shows that there was a lower proportion of people holding formal qualifications (Bachelor or higher degree; Advanced Diploma or Diploma; or Vocational qualifications), and a higher proportion of people with no formal qualifications.

Overall, 46.6% of the population aged 15 and over held educational qualifications, and 44.3% had no qualifications, compared with 52.8% and 39.5% respectively for Georges River Council area.

The major differences between qualifications held by the population of the Western Sydney (LGA) and Georges River Council area were:

  • A larger percentage of persons with No qualifications (44.3% compared to 39.5%)
  • A larger percentage of persons with Vocational qualifications (16.8% compared to 13.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons with Bachelor or Higher degrees (20.9% compared to 30.1%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the qualifications of the population in the Western Sydney (LGA) between 2011 and 2016 were in those with:

  • Bachelor or Higher degrees (+103,746 persons)
  • No qualifications (+36,751 persons)
  • Vocational qualifications (+34,297 persons)
  • Advanced Diploma or Diplomas (+30,624 persons)
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