Job-related training

Introduction

The Annual Population Survey provides key information about workers who say that they have recently received job-related training. In the headline data, the measurement is based on receipt of training within the latest four weeks but the data also includes rates of training over the latest 13 weeks.

Regional and local rates are based on the residence of the respondent, which sometimes differs from the workplace. Most rates are for workers aged 16 to 64, a proxy for working age. Sub-national data is based on surveys taken over a 12 month period and this report focuses on 2023, the latest full calendar year for which information is available.

Job-related training in 2023

In the North East Combined Authority (CA) area in 2023, among people aged 16 to 64:

• Just under 14% of workers had received job-related training in the previous four weeks
• the percentage was slightly higher than a year earlier and the North East rate had been on an upward trajectory since 2016
• prior to that date, the rate had decreased in most years and recent changes had not entirely reversed that decrease. The 2023 rate was still lower than in the years before 2010
• the latest North East rate was lower than that for England excluding London. This had been the case for most years from 2013 onwards. However, the North East rate had been higher prior to that date
• just over 23% of North East workers had received job-related training in the previous 13 weeks
• this was also lower than the England excluding London percentage and patterns of change over time had been similar to those for the four week measure.

Comparisons within the North East

In 2023, among people aged 16 to 64:

• The North East had the third lowest percentage of workers receiving job-related training in the previous four weeks among the eight core city areas
• among North East local authority areas, the percentage was highest for workers from Northumberland and lowest for those from Sunderland
• North East full-time workers were more likely than part-time workers to have received job-related training in the previous four weeks
• the same was true for female workers, when compared to their male equivalents
• training was more likely for North East workers in the public sector than for those in service industries elsewhere or for those in production industries
• the North East percentage of workers receiving recent training was lower than the England excluding London percentage for each of these workers types
• in percentage point terms, the gap was largest among male part-time workers and public sector workers.