Post-16 education investment is key to plugging qualifications gap

The Local Area Analysis of Qualifications from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), released today, shows that 15% of adults aged 16-64 in England and Wales have no qualifications, including 10.5% of all 16-24 year olds.

The union argued that these statistics highlight the continued need for a well-resourced, comprehensive post-16 education system which supports adults to enter and progress through all stages of learning.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'These statistics show that, in over 50 local authority areas in England and Wales, 1 in 5 of adults have no qualifications at all, which is frankly outrageous.

'We know that initial education doesn't work for everyone, and this report clearly reinforces the need for an accessible and wide-ranging further and higher education system to help plug the qualifications gap. Across the country, education providers need to join with local authorities and other agencies to ensure a joined-up approach, helping those with the lowest qualification levels to access the learning opportunities that will most benefit them.'