Project Description
This project explores the relationship between education, employment, and overall wellbeing in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). By analyzing trends from various datasets, including Year 12 completion rates, tertiary enrollment, unemployment, and job satisfaction, the project aims to show how improvements in education directly impact employment outcomes and enhance community wellbeing.
The project uses publicly available datasets, such as the ACT Schools Census 2022, the Our Lives Survey 2023, and the 2018 Vital Signs Report, to highlight how education reforms can lead to lower unemployment rates, increased job satisfaction, and improved quality of life.
Key Components:
• Education Trends: Analyzes the growth in Year 12 completion and tertiary enrollment rates.
• Employment Trends: Tracks unemployment and underemployment rates, showing their correlation with education levels.
• Job Satisfaction: Explores the impact of better education on job satisfaction and workplace fulfillment.
• Proposed Solutions: Offers policy suggestions, including expanding tertiary education and skills training to improve employability and overall wellbeing in the ACT.
Tools:
The project uses visualizations, such as line and bar charts, to present data trends clearly and effectively. These insights provide policymakers and the public with an understanding of how investing in education can create long-term social and economic benefits.
Data Story
Education plays a pivotal role in shaping employment outcomes and overall wellbeing in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This data story explores how improvements in education—measured through Year 12 completion rates and tertiary enrollment have led to positive changes in the labor market and increased job satisfaction.
By analyzing key datasets from the ACT Schools Census, the 2018 Vital Signs Report, and the Our Lives Survey 2023, we can observe significant trends:
•Year 12 Completion Rates have risen steadily from 85% in 2010 to 94% in 2021, showing an upward trend in secondary education attainment.
•Tertiary Enrollment increased from 45% to 57% during the same period, indicating a greater number of students pursuing higher education.
•As education levels improved, Unemployment Rates decreased from 6.1% to 5.0%, while Underemployment also fell from 9.1% to 6.9%.
•Job Satisfaction increased from 70% to 81%, demonstrating that more educated individuals tend to find better job opportunities and are more satisfied with their careers.
Key Insights:
•Higher Education = Lower Unemployment: As more individuals complete Year 12 and pursue tertiary education, their employability increases, resulting in lower unemployment and underemployment.
•Better Education = Greater Wellbeing: With better access to education, ACT residents experience higher job satisfaction, contributing to overall community wellbeing.
