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Welsh Government
Data Provider: Welsh Government National Statistics Highest qualification levels of working age adults by sex, year and qualification
None
AgeWorking age adults include 1. males and females aged 18-64 (as referred to in this release) and 2. males aged 18-64 and females aged 18-59 (as referred to in previous releases).<br /> [Filtered]
Sex[Filter]
Sex 1[Filter]
Measure1
QualificationLevel of the highest qualification held. Data have previously been presented as NVQ equivalencies. From September 2004, the National Qualification Framework (NQF) was expanded and the former levels 4 and 5 were divided into more precise levels (4-8). From 2022 the questions, previously based on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), have been updated to reflect the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). More detail on this is provided in the quality information of the statistical release. [Filtered]
YearFor years labelled 2001 to 2003 in this dataset, the actual periods covered are the 12 months running from March in the year given to February in the following year (e.g. 2001 = 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002). Since 2004, the annual data have been produced on a rolling annual basis, updated every three months. The rolling annual averages are on a calendar basis with the first rolling annual average presented here covering the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004. Note therefore that there is a two-month overlap between the last period presented on the former March to February basis, and the first period on the new basis. [Filter]
Click here to sortNo qualificationsPersons who reported holding no qualificationsClick here to sortQualified to below level 2Persons who are qualified to below level 2 and no higherClick here to sortQualified to level 2Persons who are qualified to level 2 and no higherClick here to sortQualified to level 3Persons who are qualified to level 3 and no higherClick here to sortQualified to levels 4-6Persons who are qualified to levels 4-6 and no higherClick here to sortQualified to levels 7-8Persons who are qualified to level 7-8 and no higherClick here to sortQualified to level 2 or abovePersons who are qualified to at least level 2 and includes persons qualified to a higher levelClick here to sortQualified to level 3 or abovePersons who are qualified to at least level 3 and includes persons qualified to a higher levelClick here to sortQualified to level 4 or abovePersons who are qualified to at least level 4 and includes persons qualified to a higher level
2001.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable
2002.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable
2003.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable
2004.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable
Year end 31 Dec 2005.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable
Year end 31 Dec 2006.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable
Year end 31 Dec 2007.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable.The data item is not applicable
Year end 31 Dec 200815.215.921.119.921.86.168.947.727.9
Year end 31 Dec 200914.815.820.619.522.86.469.448.829.2
Year end 31 Dec 201013.115.621.319.823.46.871.349.930.2
Year end 31 Dec 201112.015.221.520.324.26.972.851.331.0
Year end 31 Dec 201211.414.621.020.924.97.274.153.032.1
Year end 31 Dec 201310.414.220.221.925.67.675.455.233.2
Year end 31 Dec 20149.813.720.021.427.38.076.656.635.2
Year end 31 Dec 201510.313.519.620.827.28.676.256.635.8
Year end 31 Dec 20169.512.819.820.527.69.877.757.937.4
Year end 31 Dec 20178.712.820.220.827.110.478.558.337.5
Year end 31 Dec 20188.412.719.821.327.110.778.959.137.8
Year end 31 Dec 20198.212.719.720.627.611.279.159.438.8
Year end 31 Dec 20207.311.618.721.329.211.981.162.441.1
Year end 31 Dec 20218.211.917.620.929.412.079.962.341.4
Year end 31 Dec 2022Estimates for 2022 onwards cannot be compared to previous years following changes to the questions on qualifications in the Annual Population Survey.8.35.219.723.531.411.986.666.843.3
Year end 31 Dec 2023Estimates for 2022 onwards cannot be compared to previous years following changes to the questions on qualifications in the Annual Population Survey.7.94.720.022.332.412.687.467.445.0

Metadata

Title

Levels of highest qualifications held by working age adults by age group and sex

Last update

April 2024 April 2024

Next update

April 2025 (provisional)

Publishing organisation

Welsh Government

Source 1

Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

Contact email

post16ed.stats@gov.wales

Designation

National Statistics

Lowest level of geographical disaggregation

Wales

Geographical coverage

Wales

Languages covered

English and Welsh

Data licensing

You may use and re-use this data free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government License - see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence

General description

Data are presented for working age adults i.e. on basis of 1. males and females aged 18-64 and 2. males aged 18-64 and females aged 18-59 as referred to in earlier releases (prior to 2015 data) – according to their age at the start of the academic year. Note that data for working age adults, on the basis of males and females aged 18-64, are only available from 2008 onwards.

Contact: Post16ed.stats@gov.wales

Data collection and calculation

Source: Annual Population Survey/Welsh Local Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics

The data presented are based on the results of the Annual Population Survey for 2004 onwards, and from the annual Local Labour Force Survey for Wales for 2001-2003, both of which are household surveys carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

From 2001, annual Local Labour Force Survey (LLFS) data collected in Wales were based on a significantly enhanced sample.
The survey asks respondents for qualifications that they hold, and from this information the highest qualification held by the respondent is calculated. The highest qualifications are grouped into levels. Figures are provided for those obtaining qualifications at least at a certain level, and qualifications up to and including a certain level.

Data have previously been presented as NVQ equivalencies. From September 2004, the National Qualification Framework (NQF) was expanded and the former levels 4 and 5 were divided into more precise levels (4-8). Data are now presented according to this classification.

The statistics presented here for 2022 are not comparable with previous years due to the changes to the qualification questions in the Labour Force Survey/Annual Population Survey. The questions, previously based on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), have been updated to reflect the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

More detail on this is provided in the quality information of the statistical release.


Frequency of publication

Annual

Data reference periods

For years labelled 2001 to 2003 in this dataset, the actual periods covered are the 12 months running from March in the year given to February in the following year (e.g. 2001 = 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002).

Since 2004, the annual data have been produced on a rolling annual basis, updated every three months. The rolling annual averages are on a calendar basis with the first rolling annual average presented here covering the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004.

Note therefore that there is a two-month overlap between the last period presented on the former March to February basis, and the first period on the new basis.

Users, uses and context

The statistics are used within the Welsh Government to monitor trends in qualification levels. This release contains data for one of the national indicators (8 - percentage of adults with qualifications at the different levels of the National Qualifications Framework) and two related national milestones.
These statistics, along with the national indicator and national milestones are specifically included within Stronger, fairer, greener Wales: a plan for employability and skills.


Rounding applied

Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

Statistical quality

As the data come from a survey, the results are sample-based estimates and therefore subject to differing degrees of sampling variability, i.e. the true value for any measure lies in a differing range about the estimated value. This range or sampling variability increases as the detail in the data increases; for example local authority data are subject to higher variability than regional data.

Keywords

Qualifications

Name

EDUC0008