Description:
This indicator measures the proportion of adults aged 16-64 with SCQF level 4 or below as their highest level of qualification. This captures working age adults with low or no qualifications (SCQF level 4 is equivalent to Standard Grade General level).
Source of Data:
FUTURE ISSUES OR REVIEWS:
Labour market statistics are revised periodically in line with the release of more up-to-date mid-year population estimates. The most recent revision took place in August 2021, with data in this series being reweighted back to April 2019-March 2021.
Important note: In August 2021, ONS Annual Population Survey (APS) responses for periods April 2019-March 2020 onwards have been weighted to new populations derived using growth rates from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Real Time Information (RTI) to allow for different trends during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This new weighting methodology gives improved estimates of both rates and levels following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current confidence interval around the estimate from the APS is ±0.5%.
Definitions:
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) uses 12 SCQF Levels to provide an indication of the complexity of qualifications and learning programmes. SCQF Level 1 is the least demanding and SCQF Level 12 is the most demanding. Examples of qualifications at SCQF level 4 would be Intermediate 1, General Standard Grade, and SVQ1.
The use of SCQF level 4 or below to define those with low or no skills is in line with the internationally accepted definition used by OECD. The population of interest is people aged 16-64. It is recognised that people who are over 64 years old will have issues around literacy and numeracy which also need to be addressed, however to maximise the link between the indicator and the Government's National Outcomes this particular indicator focuses on the population aged 16-64.
Future Issues or Reviews:
Important note: In August 2021, ONS Annual Population Survey (APS) responses for periods April 2019-March 2020 onwards have been weighted to new populations derived using growth rates from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Real Time Information (RTI) to allow for different trends during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This new weighting methodology gives improved estimates of both rates and levels following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Criteria for Change:
This evaluation is based on:
- any difference within +/- 0.7 percentage points of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change.
- A decrease of 0.7 percentage points or more suggests the position is improving.
- an increase of 0.7 percentage points or more suggests the position is worsening.