Perspectives on regional Australia: change in regional educational attainment, 2001 to 2011

All regions in Australia experienced growth in the rate of attainment of higher level qualifications among their populations aged 20-64 years between 2001 and 2011. Regions which experienced high growth in higher level qualifications, also had different population characteristics.

This article focussed on three regions with large growth in the rate of attainment of higher level qualifications between 2001 and 2011. In all three regions, migration of people with qualifications into the region contributed to the increase in qualifications. In Brisbane - North, increases in higher level qualifications corresponded with population growth, particularly from migration from other parts of Greater Brisbane. In contrast, the increase in higher level qualifications in the population of Sydney - City and Inner South has been influenced by the attraction of younger people, particularly from overseas, into this inner city region. The increase in qualifications in South East Tasmania was influenced by in-migration of people with qualifications into the regions just outside the capital city, with migration of older people a particular feature.