2020 NSW Post-School Destinations and Experiences Survey
This report was originally published 26 October 2021.

Download
- 2020 Post school destinations report (pdf 1.76 MB)
- 2020 Post school destinations technical report (pdf 1.1 MB)
- 2020 Aboriginal factsheet (pdf 652.61 KB)
- 2020 All school leavers factsheet (pdf 674.16 KB)
- 2020 Impacts of COVID 19 factsheet (pdf 406.97 KB)
- 2020 Recent school leavers experiences factsheet (pdf 345.18 KB)
- 2020 Rest of NSW factsheet (pdf 1.03 MB)
Read online - annual report
Read online - factsheets
- All school leavers fact sheet.
- Aboriginal Year 12 completers and early school leavers.
- Impacts of COVID-19 on recent school leavers’ post-school destinations.
- What comes next? Recent school leavers’ post-school destination experiences.
- Year 12 completers and early school leavers living in the rest of NSW.
Summary
Destinations of students who completed or left school early in 2019
Year 12 completers

Just over three-fifths (62.1%) of 2019 Year 12 completers were in some form of education or training in 2020. The main post-school destination for this cohort continued to be a Bachelor degree (45.0%). Just over one-quarter (26.9%) were employed (7.8% full-time and 19.1% part-time), while a smaller proportion were looking for work (7.7%), or not in the labour force, education or training (NILFET*; 3.3%).
*Not in the labour force means that a person is not working and not looking for work.
Early school leavers

In 2020, the main post-school destinations among 2019 early school leavers were substantially different from Year 12 completers. More than half (51.4%) were undertaking some form of education or training. The most common post-school destination among this cohort was an apprenticeship (27.7%). Just over one-quarter of early school leavers were employed (8.8% full-time and 16.7% part-time), while a smaller proportion were looking for work (17.3%) or NILFET (5.9%).
1 There are ten main school destinations that relate to further education and current employment. This classification system is hierarchical and prioritises education related post-school destinations over participation in employment. As such, it represents a young person’s main destination since leaving school.
2 A detailed outline of the survey method, including eligibility guidelines and the selection process can be found in the technical report.