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Welsh Government
Data Provider: Welsh Government National Statistics 24c. Education - Percentage of working age adults qualified to National Qualification Framework level 4 or above (WEL)

Data for 1997-2000 are based on a four-quarter average of quarterly LFS data. Data for 2001 to 2003 are based on the ‘boosted’ annual LFS for Wales and represent the period from March each year to February the following year. As a result estimates for 2001 onwards are more reliable than for previous years and comparisons over time should be treated with caution. Figures for 2004 represent the calendar year ending in December 2004 and are from the Annual Population Survey.

Chart corresponding to the data table
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]
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]
Sex[Filter]
Sex 1[Filter]
Measure1
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. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 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). From 2001 onwards the Annual Local Labour Force Survey, which contained a fourfold boost to the Welsh sample, has been used. 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. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [Filter]
Drop Row Fields HereClick here to sort2001Click here to sort2002Click here to sort2003Click here to sort2004Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2005Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2006Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2007Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2008Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2009Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2010Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2011Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2012Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2013Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2014Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2015Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2016Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2017Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2018Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2019Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2020Previously published estimates for 2020 and 2021 have been revised following a reweighting of the Annual Population Survey.Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2021Previously published estimates for 2020 and 2021 have been revised following a reweighting of the Annual Population Survey.Click here to sortYear end 31 Dec 2022Estimates for 2022 cannot be compared to previous years following changes to the questions on qualifications in the Annual Population Survey.
Measure1 Total200.4209.5215.0219.8221.5224.6228.0233.8236.5242.0246.8251.0256.3261.7261.0265.8267.9269.3270.8279.5277.4290.1

Metadata

Title

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

Last update

April 2023 April 2023

Next update

April 2024 (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.

Revisions information

Since the previous publication, the Annual Population Survey data back to 2020 has been reweighted, and this StatsWales cube has been updated with these new data. The reweighted data has made a slight change to data for 2020 and 2021.

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