Education is one of those topics people avoid at BBQs – until they are trying to hire a bookkeeper, estimator, planner, nurse, or survey tech and cannot find one. The Fraser Coast has made progress since 2006, but our education profile still shapes the type of industries we attract and the wages we can sustain.
The 2021 Census shows 36.7% of residents aged 15+ had completed Year 12, up from much lower levels in 2006. Bachelor degree or higher is 11.0%. Those numbers are improving, but they remain below Queensland and Australia averages – and the gap matters because it influences workforce capability and business investment decisions.
Now bring that into the 2025-2026 economy. Our biggest job sectors are Health Care and Social Assistance, Construction, Retail and Education. These sectors are hungry for skilled workers and for clear training pathways. If we cannot grow local capability, we import labour (hard) or we cap growth (worse).
The opportunity is practical, not political: apprenticeships, trade pathways, TAFE alignment, and better ‘stay local’ options for young people. If we want more professional wages and more diversified industry, the education pipeline is the lever.
For the property industry, there is a direct link: education outcomes influence the depth of local owner-occupier demand, the strength of local businesses, and the ability to deliver housing efficiently. Education is not a ‘social issue’ separate from property. It is a supply chain issue.
Stats source: profile.id / .id using ABS Census (2006, 2021) education indicators; economy profile context from economy.id industry structure.
