Education
Qualifications
Qualifications records the highest non-school qualification completed by people aged 15 years and over. It describes post-school educational attainment such as certificates, diplomas, and university degrees.
Related topics
About this topic
Qualifications records the highest non-school qualification completed by people aged 15 years and over. It describes post-school educational attainment such as certificates, diplomas, and university degrees.
This topic is a key indicator of skill level and socio-economic opportunity within an area. It is most useful when read with employment status, occupation, and income, which show how qualifications relate to labour market outcomes.
Interpretation notes
- This topic uses highest completed non-school qualification, so incomplete study and current enrolment do not count as attained qualifications.
- It applies to people aged 15 years and over and should be read with schooling for the full education profile.
Key insight
In 2021, no qualification was the most common qualification level among residents aged 15 and over in Smithfield (Qld), accounting for 36.4% (1,950 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (35.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in bachelor degree or higher, which increased by 340 people and 2.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Highest qualification achieved
Smithfield (Qld) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises qualifications for Smithfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Chart view
Highest qualification achieved snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Bachelor Or Higher Degree
Advanced Diploma Or Diploma
Vocational
No Qualification
Not Stated
Highest qualification achieved change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Bachelor Or Higher Degree
+340
+2.3pp
Advanced Diploma Or Diploma
+181
+1.4pp
Vocational
+204
-1.3pp
No Qualification
+338
-1.5pp
Not Stated
+44
-1.0pp
Data table
Qualifications for Smithfield (Qld). Highest qualification achieved. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Bachelor Or Higher Degree | 1,172 | 21.9% | 19.1% | 832 | 19.6% | 16.2% | +340 | +2.3pp |
| Advanced Diploma Or Diploma | 575 | 10.7% | 9.8% | 394 | 9.3% | 9.2% | +181 | +1.4pp |
| Vocational | 1,239 | 23.1% | 23.7% | 1,035 | 24.4% | 23.0% | +204 | -1.3pp |
| No Qualification | 1,950 | 36.4% | 35.5% | 1,612 | 37.9% | 38.4% | +338 | -1.5pp |
| Not Stated | 420 | 7.8% | 11.8% | 376 | 8.8% | 13.1% | +44 | -1.0pp |
| Total | 5,356 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,249 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,107 | 0.0pp |