Qualifications

People with NVQ Level 4+ (or equivalent)

The national vocational qualification (NVQ) is a work-based qualification that recognises the skills and knowledge a person needs to do a job. A Level 4 NVQ is considered equivalent to a Higher Education Certificate or a BTEC qualification, demonstrating a comparable level of knowledge, skills, and competency in a specific field of study. This chart shows the percentage of the working age population (16-64) with a NVQ Level 4 qualification or above.

This data captures the percentage of people who have skills for work at a nationally recognised standard. It is a more diverse representation of education and skills attainment than purely academic or exam-based qualifications alone.

Across all three regions in the North of England, there is a clear upwards trend in attainment of NVQ Level 4+ (or equivalent) qualifications. This is mostly being driven by an increasing rate of young people achieving qualifications through a graduate university route, though there is also some growth being driven by older professionals accessing post-graduate study, particularly through the increased use of the apprenticeship levy to pay for these qualifications.