Qualification levels in the North EastThe latest data about the highest level of qualification covers the calendar year 2023. In the North East, among working age (16-64) people: - Just over 40% of residents had a qualification at level 4 or above
- this was a smaller percentage than for England excluding London and was the second lowest among the eight core city areas
- at local authority area level, the percentage was highest among Newcastle residents and lowest among Sunderland residents
- at constituency area level, the percentage was highest in Hexham, one of six where more than half of residents had a level 4+ qualification
- about 8.6% of North East residents had no qualifications, a higher percentage than for England excluding London and the third highest percentage among the core city areas
- among local authority areas, Sunderland had the highest percentage of residents with no qualifications, with Gateshead having the lowest.
The introduction of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in 2022 means that the latest data can only be directly compared that of the previous year. Earlier trends can be charted using the NVQ framework. Between 2022 and 2023: - the percentage of North East residents with a level 4+ qualification increased by 2.3 percentage points (pp)
- this was a larger pp increase than for England excluding London and continued the fairly constant upward trend in the decade to 2021
- the percentage of North East residents with no qualifications increased by 0.7 pp, contrasting with a 0.3 pp decrease for England excluding London
- the increase differed from the broad North East downwards trend in the years up to 2021, although there was also an increase in the percentage between 2020 and 2021.
Highest level of qualifications (%), North East, geographic comparisonsSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025) Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, latest data from a survey taken throughout 2023. Levels used are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release. Geography: Mayoral combined authority (MCA) and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas. The D2N2 area includes Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. These areas include the English conurbations with the highest populations outside of London. Data for Tees Valley and London are included for comparisons.
Read MoreHighest level of qualification (%), North East local authority areasSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025) Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, latest data from a survey taken throughout 2023. Levels used are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release. Geography: Local authority areas in the North East MCA / LEP area
Read MoreHighest level of qualification (%), North East constituency areasSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025) Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, latest data from a survey taken throughout 2023. Levels used are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release. Geography: Parliamentary constituency areas in the North East MCA / LEP area (as in the latest general election). Some percentages for areas with low populations are based on small sample sizes and have a large level of uncertainty.
Read MoreHighest level of qualification (%), North East trendsSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025) Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population with no qualifications and with level 4 and above qualifications, data from surveys taken over twelve-month periods. Levels used in the latest release are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release.
Geography: North East MCA / LEP area, England excluding London
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Qualification levels by age and sexAmong 16-64 year olds in the North East in 2023: - A higher percentage of females than males were educated to level 4 and above (41.0% compared to 39.5%)
- this was also true for England excluding London, where the gap was wider than in the North East
- a higher percentage of males than females had no qualifications
- again, this was also true for England excluding London but, in this case, the gap was wider in the North East
- the percentage of people with qualifications at level 4 and above was highest in the 25 to 29 age group, where the rate was higher than for England excluding London
- the percentages with this level of qualification in the three 30+ age groups were all lower than in England excluding London
- the percentage of people with no qualifications was highest among the youngest (16 to 19) and oldest (50 to 64) age groups
- among the 25 to 64 age group, those aged 50 to 64 made up 48% of residents with no qualifications but only 34% of those with a level 4+ qualification.
Highest level of qualification (%), North East by sexSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025) Data information: Percentage of 16-64 population, latest data from a survey taken throughout 2023. Levels used are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release. Geography: North East MCA / LEP area, England excluding London
Read MoreHighest level of qualification (%), North East by age groupSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025) Data information: Percentages by age group, latest data from a survey taken throughout 2023. Levels used are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release. Geography: North East MCA / LEP area, England excluding London
Read MoreHighest level of qualification (count), North East by age groupSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025) Data information: Latest data from a survey taken throughout 2023. Levels used are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release. Geography: North East MCA / LEP area
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Economic activity rate by qualification levelIn 2023, among North East residents aged 16 to 64: - The economic activity rate for people with a level 4+ qualification was twice the rate for those without qualifications
- the rates for those with qualifications at levels 1 and 2 were both about 1.5 times higher than the rate for those without qualifications
- the level 4+ rate was almost 11 percentage points (pp) higher than the overall rate
- the economic activity rate was lower than for England excluding London for all qualification levels with the gap fairly similar across all qualification levels
- the male economic activity rate was higher than the female rate for all levels, with the gap being narrowest at level 4+.
Economic activity rate by highest level of qualification, North EastSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025), (economic activity rates: North East LEP analysis) Data information: For each qualification level: The number of economically active 16-64 year-olds expressed as a percentage of all 16-64 year-olds. Economically active people are either in employment or actively seeking work (unemployed).
Latest data from a survey taken throughout 2023. Levels used are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release. Geography: North East MCA / LEP area, England excluding London
Read MoreEconomic activity rate by highest level of qualification, North East by sexSource: Annual Population Survey (ONS via Nomis, last updated 16 Apr 2024, next update Apr 2025), (economic activity rates: North East LEP analysis) Data information: For each qualification level: The number of economically active 16-64 year-olds expressed as a percentage of all 16-64 year-olds. Economically active people are either in employment or actively seeking work (unemployed).
Data from surveys taken over twelve-month periods. Sub-national qualification statistics are only available for Jan-Dec periods.
Latest data from a survey taken throughout 2023. Levels used are from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Prior to 2022, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels were used and the statistics are not directly comparable with the latest release. Geography: North East MCA / LEP area
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Defining qualification levelsThe Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) includes eight levels, the five highest of which are combined in the published data: - Level 1: GCSEs grades 3-1 and equivalent; NVQ1; other level 1 qualifications
- Level 2: GCSEs grades 9-4 and equivalent; intermediate apprenticeships; NVQ2; other level 2 qualifications
- Level 3: A levels grade A-E; AS levels; T levels; advance apprenticeships; NVQ3; other level 3 qualifications
- Level 4: Certificates of higher education; HNCs; higher apprenticeships; NVQ4; other level 4 qualifications
- Level 5: Diplomas of higher education; HNDs; foundation degrees; NVQ5; other level 5 qualifications
- Level 6: Bachelor’s degree (with or without honours); degree apprenticeships; NVQ6; other level 6 qualifications;
- Level 7: Master’s degree, Postgraduate certificates including PGCE; NVQ7; other level 7 qualifications
- Level 8: Doctorates; other level 8 qualifications.
The previous definition of qualification levels (NVQ) included an apprenticeship level. However,apprenticeship qualifications are split into four separate levels in the new RQF. |