This dataset can be found in:

Highest qualification levels of working age adults by UK country, region and qualification

Contents

Standard shorthand is used in this table: [b] = break in time series.

View options

Filters

Data description ( of 10 selected10 selectable options)

Select all Data description|Select None of Data description

Year ( of 24 selected24 selectable options)

Select all Year|Select None of Year

Geography ( of 14 selected14 selectable options)

Select all Geography|Select None of Geography
Select all United Kingdom|Select None of United Kingdom
Select all England|Select None of England

Sex ( of 3 selected3 selectable options)

Select all Sex|Select None of Sex
Select all Persons|Select None of Persons

Age group ( of 2 selected2 selectable options)

Select all Age group|Select None of Age group

Data valuesData descriptionYearGeographySexAge group
6.1No qualifications2024United KingdomPersons18-64 (Working age)
5.9No qualifications2024United KingdomPersonsHistorical working age definition
5.5No qualifications2024United KingdomFemales18-64 (Working age)
5No qualifications2024United KingdomFemalesHistorical working age definition
6.7No qualifications2024United KingdomMales18-64 (Working age)
6.7No qualifications2024United KingdomMalesHistorical working age definition
7.9No qualifications2024WalesPersons18-64 (Working age)
7.6No qualifications2024WalesPersonsHistorical working age definition
7.2No qualifications2024WalesFemales18-64 (Working age)
6.3No qualifications2024WalesFemalesHistorical working age definition
8.8No qualifications2024WalesMales18-64 (Working age)
8.8No qualifications2024WalesMalesHistorical working age definition
5.7No qualifications2024EnglandPersons18-64 (Working age)
5.5No qualifications2024EnglandPersonsHistorical working age definition
5.1No qualifications2024EnglandFemales18-64 (Working age)
4.7No qualifications2024EnglandFemalesHistorical working age definition
6.3No qualifications2024EnglandMales18-64 (Working age)
6.3No qualifications2024EnglandMalesHistorical working age definition
9No qualifications2024North EastPersons18-64 (Working age)
8.7No qualifications2024North EastPersonsHistorical working age definition
8.8No qualifications2024North EastFemales18-64 (Working age)
8.2No qualifications2024North EastFemalesHistorical working age definition
9.2No qualifications2024North EastMales18-64 (Working age)
9.2No qualifications2024North EastMalesHistorical working age definition
7.2No qualifications2024North WestPersons18-64 (Working age)
7.1No qualifications2024North WestPersonsHistorical working age definition
5.8No qualifications2024North WestFemales18-64 (Working age)
5.3No qualifications2024North WestFemalesHistorical working age definition
8.7No qualifications2024North WestMales18-64 (Working age)
8.7No qualifications2024North WestMalesHistorical working age definition
6.8No qualifications2024Yorkshire & HumbersidePersons18-64 (Working age)
6.6No qualifications2024Yorkshire & HumbersidePersonsHistorical working age definition
6.2No qualifications2024Yorkshire & HumbersideFemales18-64 (Working age)
5.7No qualifications2024Yorkshire & HumbersideFemalesHistorical working age definition
7.4No qualifications2024Yorkshire & HumbersideMales18-64 (Working age)
7.4No qualifications2024Yorkshire & HumbersideMalesHistorical working age definition
5.7No qualifications2024East MidlandsPersons18-64 (Working age)
5.5No qualifications2024East MidlandsPersonsHistorical working age definition
5.2No qualifications2024East MidlandsFemales18-64 (Working age)
4.9No qualifications2024East MidlandsFemalesHistorical working age definition
6.1No qualifications2024East MidlandsMales18-64 (Working age)
6.1No qualifications2024East MidlandsMalesHistorical working age definition
7.3No qualifications2024West MidlandsPersons18-64 (Working age)
7.1No qualifications2024West MidlandsPersonsHistorical working age definition
7.4No qualifications2024West MidlandsFemales18-64 (Working age)
6.8No qualifications2024West MidlandsFemalesHistorical working age definition
7.3No qualifications2024West MidlandsMales18-64 (Working age)
7.3No qualifications2024West MidlandsMalesHistorical working age definition
4.6No qualifications2024EastPersons18-64 (Working age)
4.5No qualifications2024EastPersonsHistorical working age definition
3.7No qualifications2024EastFemales18-64 (Working age)
3.3No qualifications2024EastFemalesHistorical working age definition
5.6No qualifications2024EastMales18-64 (Working age)
5.6No qualifications2024EastMalesHistorical working age definition
4.8No qualifications2024LondonPersons18-64 (Working age)
4.7No qualifications2024LondonPersonsHistorical working age definition
4.5No qualifications2024LondonFemales18-64 (Working age)
4.2No qualifications2024LondonFemalesHistorical working age definition
5.2No qualifications2024LondonMales18-64 (Working age)
5.2No qualifications2024LondonMalesHistorical working age definition
4.6No qualifications2024South EastPersons18-64 (Working age)
4.3No qualifications2024South EastPersonsHistorical working age definition
4.2No qualifications2024South EastFemales18-64 (Working age)
3.6No qualifications2024South EastFemalesHistorical working age definition
5No qualifications2024South EastMales18-64 (Working age)
5No qualifications2024South EastMalesHistorical working age definition
3.7No qualifications2024South WestPersons18-64 (Working age)
3.7No qualifications2024South WestPersonsHistorical working age definition
3.2No qualifications2024South WestFemales18-64 (Working age)
3No qualifications2024South WestFemalesHistorical working age definition
4.3No qualifications2024South WestMales18-64 (Working age)
4.3No qualifications2024South WestMalesHistorical working age definition
7.7No qualifications2024ScotlandPersons18-64 (Working age)
7.4No qualifications2024ScotlandPersonsHistorical working age definition
7.5No qualifications2024ScotlandFemales18-64 (Working age)
6.7No qualifications2024ScotlandFemalesHistorical working age definition
8No qualifications2024ScotlandMales18-64 (Working age)
8No qualifications2024ScotlandMalesHistorical working age definition
10No qualifications2024Northern IrelandPersons18-64 (Working age)
9.4No qualifications2024Northern IrelandPersonsHistorical working age definition
8.8No qualifications2024Northern IrelandFemales18-64 (Working age)
7.2No qualifications2024Northern IrelandFemalesHistorical working age definition
11.3No qualifications2024Northern IrelandMales18-64 (Working age)
11.3No qualifications2024Northern IrelandMalesHistorical working age definition
6No qualifications2023United KingdomPersons18-64 (Working age)
5.8No qualifications2023United KingdomPersonsHistorical working age definition
5.6No qualifications2023United KingdomFemales18-64 (Working age)
5.1No qualifications2023United KingdomFemalesHistorical working age definition
6.5No qualifications2023United KingdomMales18-64 (Working age)
6.5No qualifications2023United KingdomMalesHistorical working age definition
7.9No qualifications2023WalesPersons18-64 (Working age)
7.6No qualifications2023WalesPersonsHistorical working age definition
7.1No qualifications2023WalesFemales18-64 (Working age)
6.4No qualifications2023WalesFemalesHistorical working age definition
8.7No qualifications2023WalesMales18-64 (Working age)
8.7No qualifications2023WalesMalesHistorical working age definition
5.6No qualifications2023EnglandPersons18-64 (Working age)
5.4No qualifications2023EnglandPersonsHistorical working age definition
5.2No qualifications2023EnglandFemales18-64 (Working age)
4.7No qualifications2023EnglandFemalesHistorical working age definition
Showing 1 to 100 of 6,888 rows
Page 1 of 69

Next update expected:April 2026

Updates

19th December 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Official statistics
Data provider
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Data source
Annual Population Survey (APS)

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

Data are presented for working age adults based on the current definition of males and females aged 18-64 and historical definition of females aged 18-59 and males aged 18-64. This is 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.

The statistics are used within the Welsh Government to monitor trends in qualification levels. This release contains data for the national indicator number 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.

Data collection or calculation

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.

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.

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.

These estimates were previously classed as accredited official statistics. The APS has seen a fall in sample sizes over recent years, given this and the fact that the survey has not been reweighted to latest population estimates, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has agreed that this accreditation should be temporarily suspended and that the estimates should be re-designated as official statistics (OSR).

It is still appropriate to use these statistics, however users should note the increased uncertainty around estimates derived from the APS. At a national level, estimates continue to provide a reasonable indication of trends for Wales, however, estimates for smaller geographies or population sub-groups are less reliable.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
labourmarket.stats@gov.wales

Select the filtered or whole dataset to download

Select download format

Contains only the dataset
Contains only the dataset
Contains only the dataset

Select number formatting

This includes rounding to decimal places and commas to separate thousands
This includes rounding to decimal places and commas to separate thousands

Select language

Metadata

The metadata for this dataset is not included when you download the data. You can download this separately. This contains all the information from the 'About this dataset' tab.

Download metadata