Workforce Wizard
Glossary of Terms
ABS
See The Australian Bureau of Statistics.
ANZSCO
See The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation.
ANZSIC
See The Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification.
Apprentices and Trainee Commencements
This refers to the number of people beginning an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Apprenticeship
This often refers to the ‘traditional’ training undergone by a person in a trade. However, all traineeships and
apprenticeships are now known as Australian Apprenticeships. Australian Apprenticeships can range from
one to four years in duration.
Average (Compared To)
This refers to the South Australian average.
Bachelor Degree or Higher
This is a level of qualification obtained by a person from formal education. Bachelor degree or higher
includes:
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Bachelor degree
Graduate certificate
Graduate Diploma
Masters Degree, and
Doctoral Degree
Census (of Population and Housing)
A census is a count of a whole population. The Census of Population and Housing measures the number of
people and dwellings in Australia and their key characteristics, at a given point in time. The ABS conducts a
Census every five years.
Certificate I or II
Certificate I or II level provides knowledge and skills base ranging from basic knowledge in a narrow range of
areas to basic operational knowledge in a moderate range of areas. The focus is on basic practical skills with
some theoretical component and a prescribed range of functions involving known routines and procedures
with some accountability for the quality of outcomes, underpinned by a basic knowledge in a range of areas.
Entry to this level is by various pathways which may include the completion of Year 10 or equivalent, or
completion of a recognised programme and/or recognition of prior learning.
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Certificate III or IV
Certificate III or IV level provides a broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts and the
skills necessary to perform a broad range of skilled applications, to provide technical advice of a complex
nature and to provide workgroup leadership when organising activities. The focus is on the application of a
defined range of well-developed skills to a variety of predictable or unpredictable problems in a specific field,
with a general understanding of the underlying theories and methods related to that field. Entry to this level is
by various pathways which may include the completion of Year 10 or equivalent, or higher, or completion of
a recognised programme and/or recognition of prior learning.
Civilian Population Aged 15 Years and Over
All usual residents of Australia aged 15 years and over except members of the permanent defence forces,
certain diplomatic personnel of overseas governments customarily excluded from census and estimated
population counts, overseas residents in Australia, and members of non-Australian defence forces (and their
dependants) stationed in Australia.
Contract of Training
This is a legally binding agreement between an individual (Australian Apprentice) and an employer. This
document formalises the training activity and can bind parties to certain activities.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
This is the Australian Government department responsible for developing policy for the education, training
and workplace relations sectors. It also provides advice, programs and services for increasing productivity
and workforce participation in the labour market. DEEWR is the funding body for Australian Government
incentives applicable when employing Australian Apprentices. This department was the result of the
combination of DEWR and DEST.
Diploma or Advanced Diploma
Advanced Diploma or Diploma level provides a knowledge and skills base, incorporating theoretical
concepts, with substantial depth in some areas.
Education
The Australian education system is made up of the following sectors:
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Schools
Vocational education and training, and
Higher education.
Employed (ABS Definition)
All persons aged 15 years and over who during the reference week:
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worked for one hour or more for pay, profit, commission or payment in kind in a job or business, or on a
farm (comprising employees, employers and own account workers); or
worked for one hour or more without pay in a family business or on a farm (ie contributing family
workers); or
were employees who had a job but were not at work and were:
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away from work for less than four weeks up to the end of the reference week; or
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away from work for more than four weeks up to the end of the reference week and received pay for
some or all of the four week period to the end of the reference week; or
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away from work as a standard work or shift arrangement; or
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on strike or locked out; or
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on workers' compensation and expected to return to their job; or
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were employers or own account workers, who had a job, business or farm, but were not at work.
Employment by Industry
This is a breakdown of employment by the industry of a worker’s main job. Each worker falls under only one
of the nineteen ANZSIC industries so total employment equates to the sum of employment by each industry.
Employment Status
Employment is regarded as either full time or part time.
Full-Time Employment
Employed persons who usually worked 35 hours or more a week (in all jobs) and those who, although
usually working less than 35 hours a week, worked 35 hours or more during the reference week.
Gender
This refers to persons who are either male or female.
Higher Education
This refers to the level of post-school qualification at the Bachelor or Higher level.
Higher Education Enrolments
Those persons enrolled in post-school a qualification at the Bachelor or Higher level.
Indigenous
Persons of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; and who identify as an Australian
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and who are accepted as such by the community in which he/she lives or
has lived.
Industry
A group of business units carrying out similar productive activities coded according to the Australian and
New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006.
Labour Force
This refers to the number of employed and unemployed persons.
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Labour Force Survey
The ABS has conducted the household Labour Force Survey since 1960. The survey was undertaken on a
quarterly basis before February 1978 and has been conducted monthly since then. The purpose of the
Labour Force Survey is to provide timely information on the labour market activity of the usually resident
civilian population of Australia aged 15 and over. The statistics of most interest each month are the
estimates of the number of employed and unemployed people, the unemployment rate and the labour force
participation rate. The rate of change in the number of persons employed is a key indicator of the pace of
economic growth. The unemployment rate (the percentage of the labour force which is unemployed) is the
main measure of unutilised labour, and the participation rate (the percentage of the population in the labour
force) reflects changes in total labour availability.
Mature-aged Worker
This refers to workers who are aged 45 years or older.
Metropolitan South Australia
Refers to the Metropolitan suburbs of Adelaide and is divided into four regions:
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Northern Adelaide
Southern Adelaide
Western Adelaide, and
Eastern Adelaide.
National Centre of Vocational Education Research
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is Australia's principal provider of
vocational education and training (VET) research and statistics.
Non-School Qualification
Non-school qualifications are awarded for educational attainments other than those of pre-primary, primary
or secondary education. They include higher education qualifications (eg Postgraduate degree, Graduate
diploma) and vocational education qualifications (eg Certificates I, II, III and IV). Collectively, this group of
qualifications is referred to as 'non-school qualifications' instead of 'post-school qualifications' because
students can study for vocational qualifications while attending secondary school.
Not in the Labour Force
This refers to the number of people who are not employed or looking for employment.
Part-Time Employment
Employed persons who usually worked less than 35 hours a week (in all jobs) and either did so during the
reference week (of the survey), or were not at work in the reference week.
Post School Qualification
Post School Qualifications are awarded for educational attainments other than those of pre-primary, primary
or secondary education. They include higher education qualifications (eg Postgraduate degree, Graduate
diploma) and vocational education qualifications (eg Certificates I, II, III and IV). Unlike non-school
qualifications, however, this group does not include vocational qualifications attained while attending
secondary school.
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Qualification
This is the prescribed units of competency that provide the skills, knowledge and abilities at levels in a
certain vocation. Different qualifications in different jobs require different sets of competencies. Qualifications
under the AQF range from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma in the Vocational Education and Training
system.
Regional South Australia
Regional South Australia refers to all non-metropolitan areas of South Australia. The following areas make
up regional South Australia in its entirety:
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Adelaide Hills; Barossa
Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island
Yorke and Mid North
Murray and Mallee
Eyre and Western
Limestone Coast, and
Far North.
Regions
Regions in this document are based on the Australian Standard Geographical Classification.
Schooling
Schooling is used in the context of highest year level of schooling completed. Categories in entirety are (from
lowest to highest level of education):
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Year 8 or below
Year 9 or equivalent
Year 10 or equivalent
Year 11 or equivalent, and
Year 12 or equivalent.
South Australian Workforce
Refers to all employed people in South Australia.
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations
A skill-based classification used to classify all occupations and jobs in the Australian and New Zealand
labour markets. The structure of ANZSCO has five hierarchical levels – major group, sub-major group, minor
group, unit group and occupation. The categories at the most detailed level of the classification are termed
'occupations'. These are grouped together to form 'unit groups', which in turn are grouped into 'minor
groups'. Minor groups are aggregated to form 'sub-major groups' which in turn are aggregated at the highest
level to form 'major groups'.
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification
This is a classification framework for organising data about businesses. The classification groups business
units carrying out similar productive activities. The classification has undergone many changes since first
released in 1993 and was redeveloped in 2006 by the ABS in collaboration with Statistics New Zealand. The
ANZSIC has a structure comprising categories at four levels, namely Divisions (the broadest level),
Subdivisions, Groups and Classes (the finest level).
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is Australia's national statistical agency. Established in 1906, the
ABS is an Australian federal government body responsible for compiling national statistics and conducting
regular censuses.
Trainee
A person signed into a contract of training under the Australian Apprenticeships system. Trainees can be
any age, be engaged in most occupations and can be existing employees.
Training
This is the process of gaining skills (competencies) and knowledge to perform an activity. Training is usually
practically focused.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
The education system includes the Vocational Education and Training sector and the Higher Education
sector (usually universities). VET is primarily concerned with developing skills, knowledge and abilities
required for work. This includes training and education delivered by Registered Training Organizations
(RTOs). Sometimes VET is delivered in Years 11 and 12 through the school (college) system.
VET Course Enrolments
The number of persons registered with a VET education or training provider for the purpose of undertaking a
particular course. NCVER collates VET courses into twelve broad field of education categories: Natural and
physical sciences; Information technology; Engineering and related technologies; Architecture and building;
Agriculture, environmental and related studies; Health; Education; Management and commerce; Society and
culture; Creative arts; Food, hospitality and personal services; Mixed field programmes. NCVER also reports
course enrolments by ANZSCO occupation group.
VocStats
VocStats is a web based tool, provided by NCVER, to access comprehensive information on Australian’s
VET sector. VocStats allows registered users to construct their own data tables using an interactive web
interface which can be exported in a variety of formats.
Workforce
This refers to the number of employed persons. Unlike the labour force, the workforce does not include
unemployed persons.
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