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Continued growth in proportion of adult population with tertiary qualifications

The proportion of the population aged 25 to 64¹ with a tertiary qualification has continued to increase, from 52 percent in 1997 to 56 percent in 2002, and to 60 percent in 2005.

Distribution of the population aged 25–64 years by highest qualification 1997–2005

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour Force Survey

The main growth in highest qualifications in the last three years has been in degree and postgraduate qualifications². The proportion of the population with degree and postgraduate qualifications as their highest qualification has increased from 12 percent in 1997 to 14 percent in 2002, and to 19 percent in 2005.

Persistent differences between ethnic groups

For Māori, the main growth in qualifications continues to be below degree level. This is consistent with their participation in tertiary education. In 2005, the proportion of the Māori population with a highest qualification below degree level was approaching the proportion for the rest of the population.

Growth in the proportion of Māori with a bachelors or higher degree as their highest qualification has levelled off, while the proportion of the rest of the population with these qualifications has continued to increase.

Estimated percentage of population aged 25–64 with a degree or other tertiary qualification as highest qualification 1997–2005

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour Force Survey

Notes:

1. Survey data has been used to estimate a regression line for each population.
2. Degree includes bachelors and postgraduate qualifications.
3. Other tertiary qualification refers to qualifications below bachelors level.
4. Rest of the population refers to those who are neither Māori nor Pasifika.

The growth in qualifications attained by Pasifika peoples has been much lower. This reflects the lower historical completion rates of Pasifika students, as well as lower participation rates. The proportion of Pasifika peoples with a highest qualification below degree level remains just over half of the proportion for the rest of the population. There has been steady growth in the proportion with degrees, but it is still substantially lower than that of the rest of the population.

¹ This age group represents people who are likely to have finished their initial education and to be active in the labour force. It aligns with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicators. (↑)

² These figures are based on highest qualifications, so they do not count the number of other tertiary qualifications held in addition to degrees and postgraduate qualifications and, therefore, undercount the number of qualifications below degree level. (↑)

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• The State of Play

• Cross Strategy Indicators

• Raise foundation skills

• Skills for our knowledge society

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• Te rautaki mātauranga Māori

• Pacific people’s development and success

• Capability and quality

• Technical and Data Definitions