A report in yesterday's Newcastle Herald said Cessnock's prosperity from mining has "papered over cracks" in locals' education levels and a lack of education was the main contributing factor with only 5.5 per cent of people in the area holding a university degree compared with 16 per cent across NSW.

The news has flabbergasted Cessnock tradesman and councillor Dale Troy and real estate agent Alan Jurd, who resent and reject the report and describe it as offensive.

"I thought here we go again, another kick in the guts for Cessnock," Cr Troy said. "It's like we're beneath everyone else.

"Kids here want to get jobs in the mines because that's where the money is.

"If you live in Sydney you study to be a doctor or lawyer because that's where the money is there."

Cr Troy said he left school in year 10 and obtained trade qualifications in butchery and painting.

"These have seen me do well through life, I didn't need a tertiary education for what I wanted to do," he said.

"It's helped me raise my family, pay the bills and deliver a comfortable lifestyle, like most other tradies and business operators in this area."

He said people have looked down their nose for far too long at workers in the hospitality industry, which is Cessnock's biggest employer.

"Just because you make beds or wait tables doesn't mean you are disadvantaged," he said.

Cessnock real estate agent Alan Jurd also took offence at the report and said he also left school in year 10.

"I did a trade in the mines, worked six years dogwatch underground on the tools then studied real estate," Mr Jurd said.

"I now employ 20 people and I don't particularly look for someone with a degree when I'm hiring."