§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the findings of research conducted for his Department by Machin, Vignoles and Galindo-Rueda on the relationship between institutional productivity and skills attainments at various levels. [136457]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe research by Machin, Vignoles and Galindo-Rueda showed strong productivity effects from academic level 4+ qualifications and positive productivity effects from level 2 academic qualifications, although these are not quite as robust as the academic level 4 results. At both of these levels employers receive a productivity benefit over and above the wage increase employees enjoyed as a result of holding these qualifications.
No systematic impact on productivity from vocational qualifications was found, regardless of level though the methodology used meant that the impact of vocational qualifications would be more difficult to detect than that of academic qualifications. The authors themselves admit that this finding contradicts previous research, such as that by McIntosh1, which shows that there are wage returns to the individual for vocational qualifications. Further work is being carried out to gain a firmer evidence base in this area.
The analysis also showed that workers with the poorest basic skills are more likely to be found out of work.
1 McIntosh, S. Further Analysis of the Further Returns to Academic and Vocational Qualifications. DfES 2002 (RR370)