Education from the Annual Population Survey

December 2008

National Performance Indicators NI 163 to 165: Proportion of the population aged 19-64 males and 19-59 for females qualified to at least National Vocational Qualification levels 2, 3, 4 or higher

Central Government has set (External) 198 priority measures for local government . National Indicators 163 to 165 emphasise the key part skills and qualifications play in supporting economic development.

NVQ results from the Annual Population Survey have been downloaded and placed in Table 1. It is not certain if they are an exact match with the national indicators, but they will at the very least show a similar pattern.

These three national indicators are priority measures identified by Lancashire County Council as part of the Economic Development theme of the Lancashire Local Area Agreement .

Introduction

The Annual Population Survey (APS) was introduced in 2004, comprising the annual Labour Force Survey supplemented by an extra boost designed to obtain a sample of 500 economically active adults in each local authority district. As a cost saving measure, the supplementary information was scaled back in mid-2005 and withdrawn from January 2006. This has resulted in sample size at the national level decreasing from over 400,000 in the year to December 2004, to 280,000 for the year to June 2008. A total of 6,157 of these interviews took place in the broader Lancashire area.

The full range of available data sets from the Annual Population Survey for all areas of the country can be downloaded from the (External) NOMIS website .

Table 1 allows comparisons to be made at the local authority level and over a three-year period. Comparing yearly results at the local authority level does reveal some volatility therefore the quality of the results at the district level is somewhat suspect and the figures should be viewed with caution.

In general terms, it would appear that for the broader Lancashire NUTS-2 area that comprises all 14 Lancashire local authorities, there is some tendency towards fewer people qualified to NVQ level 4. Lancaster and Ribble Valley have a pattern of high percentages of the working age qualified to level 4, whilst in comparison, the rate in Blackpool in particular has been consistently low.

Table 1 Proportion of Working-Age Population Qualified to Levels 2+, 3+, 4+

2005
2006
2007
% of working-age population qualified to at least level:
2+
3+
4+
2+
3+
4+
2+
3+
4+

Burnley
63.4
39.7
20.4
63.5
39.1
20.1
57.8
38.7
22.5
Chorley
66.8
45.2
26.4
65.7
44.1
22.5
67.1
46.1
24.3
Fylde
71.2
48.7
34.2
71.4
49.9
29.6
76.8
56.7
30.4
Hyndburn
63.4
46.4
21.0
60.4
41.8
21.8
61.2
35.3
12.4
Lancaster
72.2
58.2
31.7
67.5
50.4
26.1
70.0
54.0
33.0
Pendle
63.7
46.9
22.8
60.8
40.9
20.4
61.1
43.1
15.8
Preston
54.7
38.4
23.5
57.2
42.4
22.0
63.5
48.5
28.9
Ribble Valley
74.3
56.9
34.3
75.6
54.1
35.5
79.6
63.9
48.2
Rossendale
63.7
44.8
28.3
65.1
42.0
18.1
65.9
40.2
22.3
South Ribble
57.1
39.3
20.6
67.3
44.0
21.5
72.4
50.5
27.7
West Lancashire
68.8
47.5
31.7
65.8
43.3
22.0
59.9
41.6
20.2
Wyre
66.5
43.7
26.2
69.9
43.4
24.3
70.5
46.5
23.2

Lancashire County
64.9
46.0
26.5
65.3
44.5
23.3
66.7
47.0
25.5

Blackburn with Darwen
58.7
38.1
20.2
58.3
39.3
21.3
54.3
37.7
20.3
Blackpool
55.8
33.9
15.6
54.6
33.1
14.8
57.5
34.0
18.0

Lancashire NUTS-2
63.4
44.0
24.8
63.6
42.9
22.3
64.6
44.9
24.3

North West
62.1
42.5
24.2
63.6
43.9
24.9
64.0
44.0
25.4
England
63.0
44.4
26.5
63.9
45.5
27.5
64.5
46.4
28.6
Notes Working-age population is all males aged 19-64 and all females aged 19-59.
People are counted as qualified to level 2 or above if they have achieved at least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C or equivalent, i.e. O levels, CSE Grade 1s, two A/S levels, or any equivalent or higher qualification in the Qualifications and Credit Framework.
People are counted as qualified to level 3 or above if they have achieved either at least 2 A-levels at grades A-E, 4 A/S levels at grades A-E, or any equivalent or higher qualification in the Qualifications and Credit Framework.
People are counted as qualified to level 4 or above if they hold qualifications equivalent to NQF levels 4-8. Level 4-6 qualifications include foundation or first degreees, recognised degree-level professional qualifications, teaching or nursing qualifications, diplomas in higher education, HNC/HND or equivalent vocational qualifications. Level 7-8 qualifications include higher degrees and postgraduate level professional qualifications.
Source ONS - Annual Population Survey

This page was compiled by Bryan Moulding .

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