This research report examined whether attending an Australian non-government secondary school gives an advantage in choice of career in later life. The study examined the occupations held in 2021 by the sex of the person and the sector of secondary school (Government run, Catholic, other Independent) attended in 2011. 

The study focused on three questions: 

1. does the sector of the secondary school attended and the sex of the student vary the pattern of engagement in the labour force?
2. does the skill level in the job held in 2021 vary by the sector of the secondary school attended and the sex of the student?
3. are there skews in the occupation patterns by industry associated with sector of school attended and sex of the student?

The data in the study highlights the educational attainment gap for males, in particular for males receiving education in government-run secondary schools.

Key findings

• In 2021 students who had attended Catholic secondary schools in 2011 had the highest levels of employment.
• The lowest rate of engagement in employment was for both males and females who had previously attended government-run secondary schools.
• Where occupations require university training for entry, and there is more demand for courses than there are available places, there is a strong and significant over-representation of people in these occupations who attended other independent schools in 2011.
• The provision of selective entry schools run by the government appears to reduce the skew towards students from other independent schools being highly over-represented in highly sought after occupations.