Highest qualifications of workplace populations
The workplace populations for the majority of local authorities in the Lancashire-14 area fared well in relation to the middle levels of qualifications, (Level 2 and Level 3) and also in terms of apprenticeship qualifications, however, the results showed lower percentages of workplace populations with Level 4 qualifications (degree or above) and higher percentages of workplace populations with low qualifications (no qualifications or Level 1 qualifications) for the majority of local authorities within Lancashire-14.
Level 2 qualifications
All of the authorities within Lancashire-14 had percentages of their respective workplace populations with Level 2 as the highest qualification held that were greater than the average for England and Wales of 16.8%. Blackpool (20.2%) and Wyre (20.1%) had the greatest percentages, whilst Fylde district (17.2%), Blackburn with Darwen (17.2%) and Ribble Valley (17.0%) had the lowest.
Level 3 qualifications
Eleven of the 14 Lancashire local authorities had percentages of their workplace populations with Level 3 qualifications which were clustered within the top 42 rankings (out of 348) within England and Wales. Lancaster and Ribble Valley, each recording 17.7%, were placed in joint 6th position. The England and Wales average was 14.7%, or roughly 1 in 7.
Apprenticeship qualifications
Ribble Valley (6.6%) had the 3rd greatest percentage of a workplace population with apprenticeship as the highest level of qualification held within England and Wales (3.6%) - behind Barrow-in-Furness (9.2%) and Copeland (7.0%), both within the North West region.
Level 4 qualifications (degree and above)
Twelve of the local authorities within Lancashire-14 had percentages of their respective workplace populations with Level 4 qualifications (degree or higher) that were below the England and Wales average (34.9%). Eight of these had percentages lower than 30%, in, or near, the bottom third of the rankings within England and Wales. Only Fylde district (37%) and Preston (35.1%) had percentages that were above the England and Wales average.
No qualifications
Conversely, 10 of the local authorities within Lancashire-14 had high percentages of their respective workplace populations with no qualifications, which were greater than the average for England and Wales of 10.2%. Eight of these had percentages that fell in the top third of the rankings. Pendle (14.5%) had the second highest percentage of the 39 local authorities within the North West - ranked 24th nationally. Fylde district (8.1%) had the lowest percentage in the region, ranked 44th lowest within England and Wales.
Level 1 qualifications
Nine of the local authorities within Lancashire-14 had percentages of their respective workplace populations with Level 1 as their highest qualification held that were greater than the average for England and Wales of 14.3%. Wyre (16.6%), Blackpool (16.4%), Rossendale (16.1%) and West Lancashire (16.0%) had the greatest percentages.
Low qualifications (no qualifications and level 1 qualifications combined)
Looking at the percentage of workplace populations with low qualifications (no qualifications and Level 1 qualifications combined), 10 of the local authorities within Lancashire-14 had percentages which were greater than the average for England and Wales of 24.5%. Six of these had percentages that fell in the top third of the rankings. Percentages ranged between highs of 29.7% in Blackpool and 29.2% in Pendle to a low of 20.7% in Fylde. Fylde had the second lowest percentage in the North West region (38th lowest in England and Wales).
Other qualifications (vocational/foreign qualifications – level not stated/unknown)
Blackburn with Darwen (5.5%) was the only North West authority that had a percentage of the workforce population with 'Other qualifications' which was greater than the average for England and Wales (5.4%).
Note
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses Level 4 qualifications and above for the degree level and above analysis within its article: 2011 Census: Qualifications and labour market participation in England and Wales, published on the 18 June 2014. The ONS definition has been used in this analysis.
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Page updated August 2015