The Skills Tasmania report showed the government had met its target and there had been a retention rate increase of 5 per cent on 2010 figures.

The report takes into account students aged 20 or under and who have successfully completed the equivalent of two years post-year 10 education and training.

However, only last month the Productivity Commission's Report on Government Services 2012 showed Tasmanian public schools improved their retention from 62.2 per cent in 2009 to 73 per cent in 2010.

It is believed the discrepancy is due to different criteria used to obtain the figures, including the definition of a full-time student.

The Skills Tasmania report also showed the government met its target of 15 to 64-year-olds with Certificate III or above qualifications by 0.3 per cent, attaining 43.3 per cent.

The proportion of 15 to 64-year-olds enrolled in education or training did not meet its target and declined by 1.4 per cent to 18 per cent.

An Education Department spokesman said it did not agree with this figure as like all surveys, there is a standard of error in data collated and in this case this is what occurred.

Education Minister Nick McKim said the figures highlighted strong results in the three-year Skills Strategy but also showed room for improvement.

``I know that historically Tasmania has not done particularly well in a lot of these areas at a national level but the targets we've set ourselves will see us over time meet those targets and exceed the national average in those areas,'' Mr McKim said.

He said in regards to the 15 to 64-year-olds enrolled in education or training category, the department would be reviewing both the data and the target it uses in the development of its next Skills Strategy.

Mr McKim said this was the final year of the strategy and Skills Tasmania was working very closely with industry to develop the next one.