Northern Beaches Council area
Age groups - Qualifications
In 2021, 17,378 people aged 65 years or more in the Northern Beaches Council area had a tertiary qualification.
Educational Qualifications relate to education outside of primary and secondary school and are one of the most important indicators of socio-economic status. They apply only to people over the age of 15 and include only qualifications gained outside of schooling.
Qualification levels are typically higher among the young and decreases with age, due to the increasing importance of education in the job market over time. For this reason, looking at qualifications for a specific age group removes this effect and may reveal patterns in school completion and university qualifications specific to the local area.
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the level of the highest qualification the person has completed?'
People aged 65 years or more
| Highest qualification achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Beaches Council area - 65 years or more | 2021 | 2011 | Change | ||||||
| Qualification level | Number | % | Greater Sydney | Number | % | Greater Sydney | 2011 to 2021 | ||
| Bachelor or Higher degree | 11,698 | 24.4 | 19.4 | 5001 | 5,271 | 14.3 | 10.8 | +6,427 | 8101 |
| Advanced Diploma or Diploma | 5,680 | 11.8 | 8.3 | 5002 | 3,703 | 10.1 | 6.3 | +1,977 | 8101 |
| Vocational | 8,094 | 16.9 | 14.6 | 5003 | 5,505 | 14.9 | 12.9 | +2,589 | 8101 |
| No qualification | 17,139 | 35.7 | 45.9 | 5004 | 15,482 | 42.0 | 51.5 | +1,657 | 8101 |
| Not stated | 5,343 | 11.1 | 11.9 | 5005 | 6,875 | 18.7 | 18.5 | -1,532 | 8101 |
| Total people | 47,954 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 36,836 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +11,118 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
Dominant groups
Analysis of the qualifications of people aged 65 years or more in the Northern Beaches Council area in 2021 compared to Greater Sydney 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.
The major differences between qualifications held by people aged 65 years or more of the Northern Beaches Council area and Greater Sydney were:
- A larger percentage of people with Bachelor or Higher degrees (24.4% compared to 19.4%)
- A larger percentage of people with Advanced Diploma or Diplomas (11.8% compared to 8.3%)
- A larger percentage of people with Vocational qualifications (16.9% compared to 14.6%)
- A smaller percentage of people with No qualifications (35.7% compared to 45.9%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the qualifications of people aged 65 years or more in the Northern Beaches Council area between 2011 and 2021 were in those with:
- Bachelor or Higher degrees (+6,427 persons)
- Vocational qualifications (+2,589 persons)
- Advanced Diploma or Diplomas (+1,977 persons)
- No qualifications (+1,657 persons)