The 2011 Census collected a range of information from people who were usual residents in England and Wales, including data on their qualifications and their economic activity. A previous census analysis on qualifications provided an overview of the general qualification levels in England and Wales and at lower levels of geography. This report looks at how people’s highest level of qualification relates to their economic activity.

Employment rates and work pattern by qualification level for usual residents aged 25 to 64 in England and Wales are covered in the Employment section. This is followed by a section on economic inactivity, reasons for inactivity and unemployment, and then by an analysis of employment rates across local authorities. In the final section, employment rates by highest level of qualification among young people (aged 16 to 24) are explored.

The main focus of the analysis is on usual residents aged 25 to 64. This is because it is difficult to draw conclusions from those aged 16 to 24 as many are still in the education system or in training, and will not yet have achieved their highest level of qualification. However, for those aged 25 to 64, most will have completed their education or training and as a result will have achieved their highest level of qualification. For this age group, it is therefore more appropriate to analyse differences in labour market participation against their highest level of qualification.