The number of persons who completed their education with a third level qualification increased by over 180,000 between 2002 and 2006, from 645,000 to 830,000. This represents an increase of over 28 per cent in four years.
This information is contained in Census 2006 Volume 10 - Education and Qualifications, which gives further detailed results of the census conducted on 23 April 2006. The report gives the final population figures classified by highest level of education completed, age at which full-time education ceased and third level qualifications held for detailed territorial
divisions in the country (see Editor's note).
The number of persons educated to primary level only continues to fall and stood at 514,000 in 2006 or 15.2 per cent of persons aged 15 years and over. In 2002 the relevant proportion was 18 per cent.
The proportion of females in full-time education continues to exceed that of males, maintaining a trend evident from previous censuses. The differential in participation rates is widest among 15-19 year olds where 82.6 per cent of females were in full-time education compared with 73.6 per cent of males.
In 2006, 38.3 per cent of non-Irish nationals whose full-time education had ceased had a third level qualification compared with 28.2 of Irish nationals. The differential in education attainment is partially, though not fully, explained by the younger age profile of those whose nationality is other than Irish. EU 15 nationals (excluding Ireland and the UK) had the highest proportion with a third level qualification (58.3%) while the proportion drops to 23.9 per cent for those from the EU 15 to EU 25 accession States. One out of two non-Irish national persons from outside the EU was educated to third level.
29 per cent of farming, fishing and forestry workers and 26 per cent of textile, clothing and leather workers were educated to primary level only according to the 2006 census. By way of contrast, 91 per cent of teachers were educated to third level compared with 89 per cent for those in religious occupations and 79 per cent of persons in scientific and technical occupations.
The most popular branch of study continues to be in the areas of social sciences/business/law (21%) followed by health (12.1%). Just under one in eight graduates held qualifications in more than one discipline. Engineering/manufacturing and
construction was the most prominent branch of study among male graduates (24%); while social sciences/business/law pre-dominated among women (20.7%).
The publication Census 2006 - Principal Socio-economic Results, released on 21 June 2007, contains a summary at State level of data from Volumes 7, 8, 10 to 12 of the detailed census reports. The publication released today, Volume 10, provides figures for education and qualifications at a more detailed geographical level.
All published tables from Census 2006 are being made available on the CSO web site (www.cso.ie). Tables at Electoral Division, Local Electoral Area and small town level are being made available exclusively on the CSO web site.
Central Statistics Office, Information Section, Skehard Road, Cork. 021- 4535011
or
Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.
Price: €15 [Copies can also be downloaded from the CSO website (see below)].
Deirdre Cullen on 01-895 1334 or Shaun McLaughlin on 01-895 1474.
Central Statistics Office, Swords Business Campus, Balheary Road, Swords, Co. Dublin.
Census Enquiries: (01) 895 1460/61/63/66
Fax: (01) 895 1399
E-mail: census@cso.ie
Internet: www.cso.ie
18 October 2007
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