Pivot tables

Introduction

The LSAY pivot tables present information about the activity of young people up to a point in time. Information is presented on employment, education, study and work, and social indicators for the latest cohorts from the first wave of collection up to the most recently collected data. LSAY participants are grouped by the year of their first survey wave.

Selected demographics are presented in each of the pivot tables, including sex, state, geographic location, school sector, country of birth and socioeconomic status.

LSAY uses large, nationally representative samples of young people to collect information about education and training, work, and social development. Data are initially collected through a combination of school achievement tests and a questionnaire administered at school. Subsequent data are gathered through annual telephone interviews. Since 2012, respondents have had the option to complete their interviews online.

Y03 cohort

Overview

The Y03 pivot tables summarise the activities of a group of young Australians who were aged on average 15.7 years in 2003.

Sample survey and design

In 2003, a nationally representative sample of approximately 12,500 15-year-old students was selected to participate in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The 2003 PISA sample comprised 355 schools from all states and territories. This sample was designed to be representative of students across Australia, using state/territory, school sector and region (metropolitan or non-metropolitan) as strata. Students from small states were over-sampled to allow for PISA results to be reported for each jurisdiction. More than 10,000 of these young people were subsequently contacted and interviewed by telephone. Since 2012, participants have had the option to complete their interviews online.

Pivot tables

Last update

The Y03 pivot tables were last updated on 26 June 2020 to incorporate the following correction to VET study status at the final wave (wave 11, 2013):

  • At the time of their final survey, a number of respondents reported having completed additional VET qualifications (including apprentice/traineeships) not reported in previous survey waves. These qualifications were incorrectly excluded from the derivation. This has now been corrected and any historical VET qualifications or apprentice/traineeships completed and reported in the final survey have now been included in the derivation.

Y06 cohort

Overview

The Y06 pivot tables summarise the activities of a group of young Australians who were aged on average 15.7 years in 2006.

Sample survey and design

In 2006, a nationally representative sample of 14,170 15-year-old students was selected to participate in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The 2006 PISA sample comprised 356 schools from all states and territories. This sample was designed to be representative of students across Australia, using state/territory, school sector and region (metropolitan or non-metropolitan) as strata. Students from small states were over-sampled to allow for PISA results to be reported for each jurisdiction. Subsequent interviews were conducted by telephone. Since 2012, participants have had the option to complete their interviews online.

Pivot tables

Last update

The Y06 pivot tables were last updated on 26 June 2020 to incorporate the following corrections to Status in apprenticeship/traineeship, Study status in VET, Highest qualification completed, Study status in bachelor degree or higher, Completed Yr 12 or certificate II or higher and Completed Yr 12 or certificate III or higher at the final wave (wave 11, 2016):

  • At the time of their final survey, a number of respondents reported having completed additional qualifications (including apprentice/traineeships) not reported in previous survey waves. These were incorrectly excluded from the derivations. This has now been corrected and any historical qualifications or apprentice/traineeships reported at the final survey have now been included in the derivations.

Y09 cohort

Overview

The Y09 pivot tables summarise the activities of a group of young Australians who were aged on average 15.7 years in 2009.

Sample survey and design

In 2009, a nationally representative sample of 14,251 15-year-old students was selected to participate in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The 2009 PISA sample comprised 353 schools from all states and territories. This sample was designed to be representative of students across Australia, using state/territory, school sector and region (metropolitan or non-metropolitan) as strata. Students from small states were over-sampled to allow for PISA results to be reported for each jurisdiction. Subsequent interviews were conducted by telephone. Since 2012, participants have had the option to complete their interviews online.

Pivot tables

Last update

The Y09 pivot tables were last updated on 26 June 2020 and now include data from the final survey (wave 11, 2019).

Y15 cohort

Overview

The Y15 pivot tables summarise the activities of a group of young Australians who were aged on average 15.7 years in 2015.

Sample survey and design

In 2015, a nationally representative sample of 14,530 15-year-old students was selected to participate in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The 2015 PISA sample comprised 758 schools from all states and territories. This sample was designed to be representative of students across Australia, using state/territory, school sector and region (metropolitan or non-metropolitan) as strata. Students from small states were over-sampled to allow for PISA results to be reported for each jurisdiction. Subsequent interviews were conducted by telephone. Since 2012, participants have had the option to complete their interviews online.

Pivot tables

Last update

The Y15 pivot tables were last updated on 30 September 2024 and now include data from the 2023 surveys.

Technical notes

Weighted population estimates

Survey responses are weighted to population benchmarks to account for the survey being undertaken as a sample rather than the entire target population. Both weighted population estimates (weighted population) and the number of respondents contributing to an estimate are included in the pivot tables.

When calculating estimates:

  • the estimated population (weighted population) should be used, not the number of respondents
  • estimates should be reported as percentages of the estimated population (weighted population)
  • users should consider the number of respondents contributing to the estimate. See below for further information.

Reliability of estimates

When using pivot tables, cross-tabulating variables can result in a small number of respondents contributing to an estimate. This leads to unreliable estimates. It is therefore important that users note the number of respondents contributing to an estimate when interpreting the information presented. NCVER recommends not reporting estimates based on five or fewer respondents.