Census 2011: Release 3G

Census 2011: Release 3G - Detailed characteristics on Labour Market and Education in Scotland 

The statistics published today by the Registrar General for Scotland on the Scotland’s Census website present further details on labour market and education (Release 3G), from national to local level.

Key points - Release 3G

Economic activity by sex by age

• Of the total of 4.4 million people aged 16 and over in Scotland at the time of the 2011 Census, 63 per cent (2.8 million) were classed as ‘Economically Active’ (in employment, or looking for work). This proportion ranged from 53 per cent for people aged between 16 and 19, to 85 per cent for those aged between 25 and 54.

• Females were more likely to be working part-time: of the economically active population, 12 per cent of males and 41 per cent of females were in part-time employment. Conversely, 79 per cent of economically active males and 52 per cent of economically active females were in full-time employment.

• There was also clear gender difference in the proportion of the population aged 16 and over who were economically inactive because they looking after their home or family: 6 per cent for females (including 11 per cent for females aged 35 to 39) compared with less than 1 per cent for males.

Economic activity by provision of unpaid care by general health

• In 2011, 79 per cent of people aged 16 and over stated that their general health was either ‘Very Good’ or ‘Good’. Almost three-quarters of these people (72 per cent or 2.5 million people) were classed as ‘Economically Active’. Of the total population of people who provided a high number of hours (35 or more) unpaid care per week, 34 per cent (59,000) were retired, 31 per cent (52,000) were employees and 16 per cent (28,000) were looking after their home or family.

Highest level of qualification* by sex by age

• Of the 4.4 million people in Scotland aged 16 and over, just over a quarter (1.1 million people) held Census Level 4 or above qualifications, such as a university degree, while just over another quarter (1.2 million people) indicated that they had no qualifications.

• Older people tended to have fewer qualifications: 60 per cent of those aged 65 and over (531,000) stated that they had no qualifications compared with 8 per cent of those aged 16 to 34 (105,000).

• 39 per cent of people aged 25 to 34 (262,000) stated they held Census Level 4 or above qualifications, compared with 18 per cent of those aged 65 and over (161,000).

• A slightly higher proportion of females (27 per cent) than males (26 per cent) had no qualifications. However, a slightly higher proportion of females (27 per cent) than males (25 per cent) held Census Level 4 or above qualifications.

Highest level of qualification* by ethnic group

• Out of the six broad ethnic groups (White, Asian, Mixed or multiple, African, Caribbean and Black, Other ethnic groups), the ‘African’ ethnic group category had the highest proportion of highly qualified people: 55 per cent (12,000) of people aged 16 and above held Census Level 4 or above qualifications. The next highest proportion was for the ‘Other Ethnic Groups’ category, at 53 per cent (6,000 people). The ‘White’ ethnic group category had the lowest proportion of people aged 16 and over with Census Level 4 or above qualifications, at 25 per cent (1.1 million).

• Within the ‘White’ ethnic group population, the sub-group with the lowest proportion of people aged 16 and over with Census Level 4 or above qualifications was ‘White: Scottish’, at 22 per cent (811,000), and the sub-group with the highest proportion was ‘White: Other’ (which includes ‘White: Gypsy/Traveller’, ‘White: Polish’ and ‘White: Other White’) at 50 per cent (71,000).

Highest level of qualification by length of residence in the UK

• People who had arrived more recently in the UK were generally more highly qualified than those who were either born in the UK, or who had been resident in the UK for 10 years or more. For example, 8 per cent (6,000 people) of those aged 16 and over who had been resident in the UK for less than two years had no qualifications compared with 28 per cent (1.1 million people) of those born in the UK.

The tables of census results covered in Release 3G are listed below. They are a mixture of ‘Detailed Characteristics’ (DC) and ‘Local Characteristics’ (LC) tables. DC versions of tables include the most complex cross-tabulations and are therefore not available at smaller geographic areas (generally available down to postcode sectors). LC versions of tables include less complex cross-tabulations and are therefore available down to the lowest geographic levels (generally census output areas). In some instances, no LC version of a table is produced as a statistical disclosure control measure. Similarly, the DC version of some tables is produced for council areas only.

* Highest level of qualifications

Brief descriptions of the categories for highest level of qualification are given below (more detailed descriptions are available on the Scotland’s Census website). These categories differ from those used in other published statistics, in particular those based on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Tables included in Release 3G

All the data contained in this release can be accessed on the Scotland’s Census website.