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ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
© 2016 Australian Library and Information AssociationALIA LIS Education, Skills and Employment Trend Report 2016Canberra ACT, Australian Library and Information Association, August 2016https://www.alia.org.au/employment-and-careers/alia-lis-education-skills-and-employment-trend-reportFor more information: [email protected]
01ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
CONTENTS
Introduction 03
Key findings and interpretation of results 04
Detailed findings 06
Sources and links for more information 19
03ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
INTRODUCTION
This is the third annual ALIA LIS Education, Skills and Employment Report. Our intention is to provide students, educators, employees and employers with an understanding of the national landscape, and the Association with the data we need to help inform our approach as the sector’s peak professional body.
This 2016 report updates some of the statistics in the previous publications, using the latest figures from the Department of Education and the Department of Employment. It includes new information, particularly in the areas of higher education and job vacancies, and in some sections we have included data relating to allied fields (Gallery and Museum Technicians, Archivists, Curators and Record Managers).
All three reports are available on the ALIA website https://www.alia.org.au/employment-and-careers/alia-lis-education-skills-and-employment-trend-report.
August 2016
04ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
KEY FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
The facts
In 2016, there were 26 institutions delivering 41 ALIA accredited courses around Australia. In addition, there were VET (Vocational Education and Training) providers offering Certificates II, III and IV in library and information studies. This represented a slight increase over the previous year but it was noted that eight higher education courses would not accept intakes in 2017 and two institutions would cease to offer LIS courses altogether.
There were 4,080 students enrolled in LIS courses in 2014 — a 10% decrease on 2013 figures — with 25% in higher education and 75% in VET. Of these 4,080 students, 2,663 were enrolled in ALIA accredited courses leading to professional membership of the Association. The most popular qualifications were the Master’s degree in higher education and the Diploma in the VET sector.
The number of LIS students enrolled in higher education courses remained constant for the three years 2012–2014. In the VET sector, there was a decline of 14% over the same period.
Over the five years from November 2010 to November 2015, there were 43.5% fewer Librarian positions in the workforce; 16.3% more Technician positions, and 12.4% fewer Library Assistant positions. Looking ahead to 2020, the Department of Employment predicted no further loss of Librarian positions, a 4.8% increase in Technician positions and a drop of 27.6% for Library Assistant positions.
More than two-thirds of Library Assistants worked part-time (69%), more than half of Technicians (54%) and more than a third of Librarians (39%).
The unemployment level for Librarians and Technicians was below average compared with other occupations, while the level for Library Assistants was above average. The top three states in terms of the number of job opportunities were New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
05ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Using 2013 data, Librarians, Technicians and Library Assistants had significantly higher education attainment compared with people employed in all occupations in Australia. For example, some 60% of Librarians had a Post Graduate or Graduate Diploma or a Graduate Certificate, compared with 9% for all occupations.
As well as library and information service delivery positions, there were also approximately 1,000 jobs working for the Australian vendors who supply library and information related products.
Our interpretation
Library and information science is an occupation with a relatively small, highly qualified workforce (representing approximately 0.2% of the Australian labour force) and an equally small education footprint (approximately 0.2% of VET students and 0.1% of higher education students).
Although the LIS workforce is small, our sector has significant reach and profile because millions of Australians use library services. More than 8.6 million Australians are registered public library users (source: National and State Libraries Australasia statistics) and still more use university, VET, special and school libraries.
The library and information sector remains an attractive proposition. It has a higher average age for workers, many of whom benefit from the option of part time flexible working. However, the workforce tends to be fairly static, with a relatively small number of vacancies occurring through staff turnover, people leaving the sector and the creation of new positions. The full impact of Baby Boomer retirement has yet to be felt, with people staying longer in the workforce.
There will be a modest increase in the number of qualified positions available over the next five years, but a significant decrease in the number of positions for staff without a library and information science qualification. Changes to ALIA’s professional development program in the lead up to 2020 will reflect the need for Certified Professional status in many parts of the sector.
06ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
DETAILED FINDINGS
Institutions providing LIS education
In 2016, there were nine higher education institutions offering 24 ALIA accredited courses, including Master’s, Bachelor and Graduate Diploma. Three of these institutions offered courses specifically for Teacher Librarians. There were 17 universities, TAFEs and colleges offering 17 ALIA accredited Diploma courses, making a total of 26 accredited institutions and 41 accredited courses [figures 1 and 2].
These figures showed two new institutions since 2015 (VET) and three new courses — one higher education, the other two VET. However, there will be no further intake for LIS courses at University of Canberra, ACT, and Edith Cowan University, WA (the latter including teacher librarianship). In addition, the University of Technology Sydney, NSW, will have no further intake for its Bachelor of Arts in Communication course.
Looking ahead to 2017, there is likely to be a drop in the number of higher education courses available to library and information science students.
In 2016, all LIS education in Tasmania ceased, but there were ALIA accredited courses offered by institutions in every other state and territory [figure 3]. Many institutions offered distance education, so location was no barrier to course delivery.
Figure 1: Number of ALIA accredited institutions
10 10 10 10 9 99
7
21 20 2018 17
1517 17
31 30 3028
2624
2624
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 (predicted)
Higher education courses VET courses Total number of institutions
Source: ALIA course accreditation records 2016
07ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Figure 2: Number of ALIA accredited LIS courses
29 29 29
2421 18
24
16
21 20 2018 17
1517
17
50 49 49
4238
33
41
33
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 (predicted)
Higher education VET Total number of courses
Source: ALIA course accreditation records 2016
Figure 3: ALIA accredited LIS courses by state/territory
2
12
1
43
2
7 7
2
10
1
4
21
76
2
14
1
5
3
0
8 8
1
11
1
5
3
0
8
4
ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
2014 2015 2016 2017 (predicted)
Source: ALIA course accreditation records 2016
08ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
LIS students
The split of LIS students remained approximately 25% higher education and 75% VET [figure 4]. For ALIA accredited courses, the number of students engaged in higher education rose by 13% over a five year period, while the number in VET declined by the same percentage [figure 5].
The Master’s qualification was the most popular LIS qualification in higher education [figure 6]. In the VET sector, program enrolments fell from 3,517 in 2014 to 3,107 in 2015, with completions mirroring this fall [figure 7]. The Diploma remained the most popular qualification, with hardly any take up for either the Certificate II or Advanced Diploma [figure 8].
Using figures specially provided by the Department of Education, we were able to go into further detail about higher education LIS students for this report. Of concern was the low number of teacher librarian students [figure 9]. We also noted the increased proportion of distance education [figure 10] and part time students [figure 11], and the continued demand for Commonwealth supported places [figure 12].
Figure 4: Number of students enrolled in LIS courses in Australia
9881,204 1,212 1,222 1,168 1,000
3,3013,559 3,679 3,587
3,245 3,080
4,289
4,763 4,891 4,8094,413
4,080
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Higher education VET Total LIS students
Source: ALIA, Department of Education, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
09ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Figure 5: Number of students enrolled in ALIA accredited LIS courses
706884 962 1,002 1,001 1,000
2,1861,932 1,883
1,7511,646 1,663
2,892 2,816 2,845 2,7532,647 2,663
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Higher education VET Total students
Source: ALIA, Department of Education, NCVER
Figure 6: LIS Higher education student numbers by level
532
383 372329 326
397 391 400364 356
5 23 29 37 26 37 36 31 45 41
600630
594625
589
736711 695
631603
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Undergraduate Enabling and non-award courses Postgraduate
Source: Department of Education 2016
10ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Figure 7: Total VET program enrolments and completions: librarianship, information management and curatorial studies
3,517
3,106
1,065
640
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
2014 2015
Enrolments Completions
Source: NCVER 2016
Figure 8: Number of VET students enrolled in library, information and cultural services courses at various levels
165143 125
10873 32
848
1,076 1,152 1,191
899759
237
571666 648 627 626
1,919
1,708 1,655 1,670 1,633 1,663
274 236 205109
13 00
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Certificate II Certificate III Certificate IV Diploma Advanced Diploma
Source: NCVER (past year figures updated from NCVER 2013 report)
11ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Figure 9: LIS Higher education student numbers—equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) by discipline.
94 98 93 96 10954 52
65 18 10
927828
773 771714
977 953 937 903874
114 111 129 124 118 138 133 124 120 116
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Figure 9: LIS Higher Education student numbers by discipline
EFTSL Librarianship, Information Management, Curatorial Studies
EFTSL Librarianship and Information Management
EFTSL Teacher Librarianship
Source: Department of Education 2016
Figure 10: LIS Higher education student numbers by mode of attendance
457386
360 378
286327
279 313223
193
649 640 634613
644
819 828784 795 807
29 11 11 22 32 29 23
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Internal External Multi -modal
Source: Department of Education 2016 Note: The number of multi-modal students has been omitted where there are <5
12ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Figure 11: LIS Higher education student numbers — full time and part time
414
334 317359
295
409 399 411369
343
720 703679
632 646
759738
714672 657
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Full time Part time
Source: Department of Education 2016
Figure 12: LIS Higher education student numbers by liability status
555
503 512534 551
736757
734700
669
389 395341
304262 278
255 253232 224189
138 142 153127
153126 138
108 102
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Commonwealth support Domestic fee paying Overseas fee paying
Source: Department of Education 2016
13ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
It was interesting to note the results of ALIA accredited institutions in the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) evaluation conducted by the Australian Research Council. Monash University was rated 4 (above world standard) and QUT 3 (at world standard) for their research output in the field of 0807 Library and Information Studies (MIC).
Employment
The figures from the Department of Employment Australian Jobs 2016 report [table 1, figures 13 and 14] showed a dramatic drop in positions for Librarians over the last five years. Projections suggested that the number of jobs had levelled off in 2015 and would remain at approximately the same level through to 2020. The number of positions for Library Technicians had increased over the last five years and a further modest increase was predicted, resulting in a total of 20,500 qualified library and information professional positions in 2020. The unemployment rate for professionals was below average compared with the total Australian workforce.
Colleagues in archives and records management had experienced a significant decline in job numbers over the last five years but the number of jobs was predicted to grow by 1,000 to 7,200 by 2020, with an average unemployment rate.
Library Assistants (people working in libraries without a library and information science qualification) took the biggest hit. The loss of 800 jobs over the last five years was predicted to more than double to a further 1,700 job losses in the next five years, leaving just 4,300 positions by 2020. Unsurprisingly, Library Assistants had a higher than average unemployment rate.
14ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Table 1: Characteristics of LIS employment
Librarians Technicians Library Assistants
Archivists, Curators and Record Managers
Number of jobs November 2010 14,900 9,500 6,800 8,600
Number of jobs November 2015 8,400 11,000 6,000 6,200
5 year change to November 2015 -6,500 1,500 -800 -2,400
5 year change (%) -43.5% 16.3% -12.4% -28.3%
Future employment change 2020 100 500 -1,700 1,000
Future employment change (%) 0.7% 4.8% -27.6% 16.7%
Number of jobs November 2020 8,500 12,000 4,300 7,200
Unemployment level compared with other occupations
Below average Below average Above average Average
Median age 51 50 51 44
Working part time 39% 54% 69% 25%
Working full time 61% 46% 31% 75%
Skill level 1 2 4 1
Source: Department of Employment Australian Jobs 2016
[1] Skill level 1 is commensurate with a Bachelor degree or higher qualification; 2 is commensurate with an Advanced Diploma or Diploma; 4 is commensurate with a Certificate II or III
Figure 13: Number of positions for Librarians, Library Technicians and Library Assistants
34,200
25,400 24,300
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
2010 2015 2020
Source: Department of Employment Australian Jobs 2016
15ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Figure 14: Number of positions for library and allied fields
Source: Department of Employment Australian Jobs 2016
The comparison of job vacancies for library and allied fields between 2010 and 2016 showed a steady demand for employees in this sector [figure 15].
Looking at the state and territory breakdown [figure 16], there were very few openings for professionals and Library Assistants in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, which suggested that the small library and allied field workforce in each region (< 1,000) was relatively static. As expected, there were greater opportunities in the most populated regions of New South Wales and Victoria. Of the other states, Queensland had the most openings. Where there were job vacancies, this could be due to staff turnover, people leaving the sector, retirement or the creation of new positions.
16ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Figure 15: Comparison of library and allied field job vacancies in June of each year (all Australia)
20 2116 16
19 19 20
64
77
55
41 42 42
6063
75
64
53 53
59 64
29
35
28 2720
27 23
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians Archivists, Curators and Records Managers
Librarians Library assistants
Source: Internet Vacancy Index, March 2016
Figure 16: Comparison of combined library and allied field job vacancies in June of each year by state and territory
7 6 5 2 1
12 11
4 59
46
3944
50
43
2923
19
2633
7 6 7 6 631 2
0 0
37 3734
41
56
2117
20
1417
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
NT ACT NSW QLD SA TAS VIC WA
Source: Internet Vacancy Index, March 2016
17ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
People who worked in library and information service delivery had significantly higher educational attainment than those in all occupations [figure 17]. This underlined the importance of a strong and successful environment for library and information studies.
Figure 17: Educational attainment (per cent of employment)
59.6%
26%
14.4%
18.8%
45.3%
35.9%
24.5%
28.6%
22.4%
24.5%
9%
19.6%
10.5%
20.9%
19.5%
16.5%
4%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Post Grad/Grad Diploma or Grad Certificate
Bachelor degree
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
Certificate III or IV
Year 12
Years 11 and 10
Below Year 10
All occupations Library Assistants Technicians Librarians
Source: ABS 2013 Survey of Education and Work
Statistics on the outcomes for graduates from VET LIS courses showed that 85% were in employment six months after finishing their courses. Of those who were employed, only 14% were in jobs in the library and information sector, although the 2013–2014 figures showed that an additional 37% were employed in a different occupation where their training was relevant to their job.
18ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
Table 2: Government-funded graduate VET outcomes six months after completing their LIS course
2013–14 2014–15
Employed or in further study after training (all graduates) 86% 85%
Employed full time (all graduates) 22% 21%
Employed part time (all graduates) 46% 44%
Employed in the same occupation as the training course 17% 14%
Source: NCVER 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 figures
There were 1,000 jobs in the library and information supply sector, identified by the ABS Australian Industry statistics [table 2]. Often, the employees of these companies were qualified library and information professionals.
Table 3: Employment and financial performance of LIS businesses (vendors)
Employment end of June*
Wages and salaries $m
Total income $m
Total expenditure $m
Earnings before tax (EBITDA) $m
2010–2011 1,000 54 192 160 23
2011–2012 1,000 51 182 159 17
2012–2013 1,000 54 191 166 23
2013–2014 1,000 51 182 154 28
2014–2015 1,000 49 194 153 26
*Estimate has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution
Source: ABS Australian Industry 2014–2015 (past year figures updated, ABS May 2016)
19ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016
SOURCES AND LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION
ALIA’s website has extensive information about the library and information sector, education, employment, professional development and training, specifically ALIA Futures https://www.alia.org.au/futureoftheprofession and ALIA Education, Employment and Careers https://www.alia.org.au/employment-and-careers.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides data about Australian education and employment from a number of different perspectives, including the 2013 Survey of Education and Work http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/mf/6227.0/, and Australian Industry 2014–2015 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/8155.0.
The Australian Research Council conducts Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) evaluation http://www.arc.gov.au/era-outcomes#FoR/0807.
The Department of Education hosts the Higher Education Statistics gathered from all Australian higher education institutions http://www.education.gov.au/student-data.
The Department of Employment publishes the Australian Jobs report https://www.employment.gov.au/australian-jobs-publication and hosts the Labour Market Information Portal http://lmip.gov.au/, which includes the Internet Vacancy Index.
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research data provides data about VET students https://www.ncver.edu.au/.
National and State Libraries Australasia produces annual statistics for Australian public libraries http://www.nsla.org.au/publication/australian-public-libraries-statistics-2013-2014.
20ALIA LIS EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TREND REPORT 2016