HC Deb 11 November 1996 vol 285 cc24-5W
Mr. Byers

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for(a) the United Kingdom, (b) each English region, (c) England, (d) Wales, (e) Scotland and (f) Northern Ireland the percentage of those unemployed who have (i) a degree or equivalent qualification, (ii) A-level or equivalent, (iii) an apprenticeship, (iv) a GCSE or equivalent and (v) no qualifications. [2981]

Mrs. Angela Knight

[holding answer 7 November 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 11 November 1996: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question asking for a breakdown of the unemployed according to level of qualification by region. The available information for the United Kingdom is shown in the table attached.

All persons ILO unemployed of working age (thousands) of which (percentage) with highest qualification1 Degree or other higher education 'A' level and equivalent (excluding trade apprenticeships) Trade apprenticeship GCSE or equivalent Other No Qualification
United Kingdom 2,344 11.6 12.3 10.6 18.1 20.0 27.4
Great Britain 2,274 11.7 12.3 10.4 18.2 20.4 27.0
England 1,942 11.8 12.2 9.7 18.1 20.8 27.4
South East 742 14.1 12.8 8.7 16.7 22.1 25.5
Greater London 379 15.6 11.2 7.1 15.8 23.7 26.5
Rest of South East 362 12.6 14.4 10.5 17.7 20.3 24.5
East Anglia 72 2— 2— 2— 21.1 23.6 23.0
South West 169 12.7 14.9 10.1 22.1 18.4 22.0
West Midlands 219 9.0 12.1 6.6 16.9 19.5 35.9
East Midlands 152 9.9 13.4 11.5 18.5 18.7 28.0
Yorkshire and 189 11.0 11.9 8.2 18.3 20.2 30.4
Humberside North west 248 11.9 9.4 10.7 19.9 20.0 28.2
North 151 7.1 11.3 16.5 16.8 22.1 26.3
Wales 114 9.3 9.7 10.8 19.2 20.2 30.8
Scotland 218 12.0 14.6 16.0 19.1 16.6 21.6
Northern Ireland 69 2— 2— 19.4 14.1 2— 41.0

Notes:

1 Working age is men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59. Includes those who did not answer, but percentages are based on totals excluding them.

2 Sample size too small for reliable estimate.

Source:

Labour Force Survey (winter 1995–96), Office for National Statistics.