Raise or Rise

The percentage of Australians holding a maths, science, or computing degree raised quite significantly from 10 to 18.

This is an easy mistake to make. There are 2 verbs with similar meanings. One is transitive (must have an object), the other intransitive (no object).

titanic

The Titanic

In your example you use raise', as in raise the titanic (V2: raised). However, you have no object, and so what you need is rise (V2: rose):

The percentage of Australians holding a maths, science, or computing degree rose quite significantly from 10 to 18.

Let me try to make a sentence using raise:

A combination of improved teaching methods, widespread availability of courses, student interest and governmental commitment raised the percentage of Australians holding a maths, science, or computing degree quite significantly from 10 to 18.

Possibly you were looking for a synonym for increase in the hope of avoiding repetition. OK, well the synonym is rise. But increase is a very effective word in Task 1 writing. To avoid repetition, use increase both as a verb and as a noun:

The percentage of Australians holding technical degrees increased.

At the same time there was an increase in the percentage of women joining the Australian workforce.