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Adult Learning and Qualifications (Skills and Learning, State of the South West 2011)

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4.12.1 According to the NIACE Adult Learning Survey for 2009, 42% of South West residents aged 17 and over who had finished full-time education were either currently learning or had participated in learning during the preceding three years. This compares with the national average of 39%. The survey found that the proportion of adults participating in learning nationally had changed little over the last ten years with participation highest among the young, the highest socio-economic groups and those who had remained in education at age 21.

4.12.2 The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of participation in job-related training and, as such, uses a narrower definition of learning than the NIACE survey. According to the LFS, one-in-seven (15%) of working age employees had trained in the last four weeks in 2009. Participation rates were highest for employees and the ILO unemployed and were higher for all forms of economic activity in the South West than the England average (Department for Children, Schools and Families, Statistics for the UK: 2009) (Figure 4.12.1).

Figure 4.12.1 Participation by people of working age in job-related training in the last four weeks by economic activity, 2009

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Participation by people of working age in job-related training in the last four weeks by economic activity, 2009 (Fig 4.12.1)
Participation by people of working age in job-related training in the last four weeks by economic activity, 2009 (Fig 4.12.1). Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2 2009.
4.12.3 The LFS also shows that, among employees, participation in work-related training  is highest amongst women, young people (particularly those aged 16 to 19 years old), those with at least an HE qualification, people working in personal service, professional or associate professional and technical occupations and those who work in public administration, education and health (The Data Service, Further Education and Skills). By contrast, employees with no qualifications are least likely to receive training with only 3% taking part in work-related training in the last four weeks.

4.12.4 Provisional results suggest that 352,100 adults aged 19 and over in the South West participated in government-funded FE during 2009/10. This includes learners who are studying on a course at an FE college, learners studying courses within their local community, employees undertaking an apprenticeship, and employees undertaking other qualifications in the workplace. The total figure includes 80,500 learners starting basic skills (‘Skills for Life’) qualifications, 49,500 learners working towards full Level 2 qualifications and 99,600 learners starting full Level 3 qualifications. Achievements during 2008/09 included 53,800 learners gaining Skills for Life qualifications, 44,300 gaining full Level 2 qualifications and 17,400 gaining full Level 3 qualifications. In total, 244,300 adults in the South West gained government-funded qualifications during 2008/09. Success rates for FE are not disaggregated by age at the regional level, but national estimates suggest that young people are equally as likely as older learners (aged 19 and over) to achieve their learning aims. Four-fifths of FE learners of any age in the South West achieved their learning aims in 2008/09. This is marginally below the England average of 81%.

4.12.5 The number of adult apprentices in the region has almost doubled since 2005/06 with 17,200 people aged 19 and over starting a government-funded apprenticeship in 2008/09. Most (64%) of these apprentices were aged between 19 and 24 years old but a significant minority (36%) were aged 25 years and over. Most (62%) adult apprentices started the ‘standard’ apprenticeship, working to qualifications at Level 2 although 38% started the Advanced Apprenticeship programme leading to Level 3 qualifications. The number of adults completing an apprenticeship framework has more than trebled over the last three years, rising from 2,800 in 2005/06 to 9,400 in 2008/09. Almost two-thirds (64%) were at Level 2 and more than one-third (36%) at Level 3. Apprenticeship success rates are not available by age at the regional level but are generally slightly higher for adult apprentices than those aged under 19 (Success Rates, SFR Supplementary Tables, The Data Service). The 2008/09 all-age success rate in the South West (73%) is the second highest in England and is comfortably above the national average (70%).

4.12.6 Provisional results suggest that 352,100 adults aged 19 and over in the South West participated in government-funded FE during 2009/10. This includes learners who are studying on a course at an FE college, learners studying courses within their local community, employees undertaking an apprenticeship, and employees undertaking other qualifications in the workplace. The total figure includes 80,500 learners starting basic skills (‘Skills for Life’) qualifications, 49,500 learners working towards full Level 2 qualifications and 99,600 learners starting full Level 3 qualifications. Achievements during 2008/09 included 53,800 learners gaining Skills for Life qualifications, 44,300 gaining full Level 2 qualifications and 17,400 gaining full Level 3 qualifications. In total, 244,300 adults in the South West gained government-funded qualifications during 2008/09. Success rates for FE are not disaggregated by age at the regional level, but national estimates suggest that young people are equally as likely as older learners (aged 19 and over) to achieve their learning aims. Four-fifths of FE learners of any age in the South West achieved their learning aims in 2008/09. This is marginally below the England average of 81%.

4.12.5 The number of adult apprentices in the region has almost doubled since 2005/06 with 17,200 people aged 19 and over starting a government-funded apprenticeship in 2008/09. Most (64%) of these apprentices were aged between 19 and 24 years old but a significant minority (36%) were aged 25 years and over. Most (62%) adult apprentices started the ‘standard’ apprenticeship, working to qualifications at Level 2 although 38% started the Advanced Apprenticeship programme leading to Level 3 qualifications. The number of adults completing an apprenticeship framework has more than trebled over the last three years, rising from 2,800 in 2005/06 to 9,400 in 2008/09. Almost two-thirds (64%) were at Level 2 and more than one-third (36%) at Level 3. Apprenticeship success rates are not available by age at the regional level but are generally slightly higher for adult apprentices than those aged under 19 (Success Rates, SFR Supplementary Tables, The Data Service). The 2008/09 all-age success rate in the South West (73%) is the second highest in England and is comfortably above the national average (70%).

4.12.6 Provisional data suggests that 50,400 adults started on Train to Gain courses during 2009/10 and 42,900 learners achieved an outcome through the programme. Three-quarters of learners who started Train to Gain (and remained on the programme for at least six weeks) achieved their learning aim(s).
4.12.7 The Skills for Life Survey in 2003 revealed that around one-in-seven adults in the South West (14%) did not have functional levels of literacy (data), and that one-in-five (21%) did not have functional levels of numeracy  (data). Local authorities have been tasked with monitoring the number of adults who achieve literacy qualifications at Level 1 and numeracy qualifications at Entry Level 3. Provisional data suggests that 127,000 people attended Skills for Life courses in 2009/10 with literacy courses attracting slightly more learners (90,600) than numeracy courses (84,500). 84,100 Skills for Life achievements were recorded in the region during 2008/09.

4.12.8 Qualifications are often used as a proxy for skills. The South West has comparatively few residents of working age who do not hold any formal qualifications, many of whom will have difficulties with basic skills. In 2009, 8% of the South West’s working age population did not hold any formal qualifications. This is three percentage points lower than the national average and four percentage points lower than the regional position in 2001. Using this estimate as an imperfect proxy for basic skills needs suggests that 236,000 South West residents may require help addressing basic skills deficiencies.
4.12.9 Currently, three-quarters (73%) of South West residents of working age (2,255,000 individuals) are qualified to at least NVQ Level 2. This includes 696,000 individuals whose highest qualification is at Level 2. The proportion with qualifications at Level 2 or higher is comfortably above the England average (70%). While qualification levels have improved considerably in recent years with the proportion qualified at this level increasing from 67% in 2001, the position for 2009 falls some way short of the previous administration’s aspiration of 79% by 2011.

4.12.10 Annual Population Survey estimates for 2009 suggest that 825,000 South West residents of working age (aged 16 to 59 for women, 64 for men) could be eligible for government-funded training to help them achieve their first Level 2 qualification.

4.12.11 More than half (51%) of the South West’s working age population have a qualification at Level 3 or above. This percentage represents around 1,559,000 residents qualified at this level, of whom 652,000 have a qualification at Level 3. South West residents are more likely than the England average (49%) to have qualification at Level 3 or higher but the proportion is lower than the previous administration’s target of 56% by 2011.

Figure 4.12.2 Highest qualification held by people of working age, 2009

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Highest qualification held by people of working age, 2009 (Fig 4.12.2)
Highest qualification held by people of working age, 2009 (Fig 4.12.2). Source: Labour Force Survey , Q2 2009.
4.12.12 Almost one-in-three (30%) working age adults in the South West is qualified to Level 4 or above. This is the same as the England average but is lower than targets set by the previous administration for 2011 (of 34%) and 2014 (of 36%). 907,000 South West residents of working age have acquired qualifications at or above Level 4. Within the South West, the proportion of the population with graduate-level qualifications is highest in Bath & North East Somerset (35%) and Bristol (35%), and lowest in Plymouth (24%), Torbay (24%) and Cornwall (23%).

Figure 4.12.3 Highest qualification held by people of working age, South West: 2001 to 2009

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Highest qualification held by people of working age, South West: 2001 to 2009 (Fig 4.12.3)
Highest qualification held by people of working age, South West: 2001 to 2009 (Fig 4.12.3). Source: Labour Force Survey.