Adult qualifications by borough

The two worst performing boroughs for 19-year-olds lacking Level 3 qualifications – Havering and Barking & Dagenham – are also the worst performing boroughs for older adults lacking Level 3 qualifications (52% and 48% respectively).

However, in some boroughs, the proportion of 25 to 49-year-olds without a Level 3 qualification is significantly lower than among 19-year-olds. In Lewisham, 37% of 19-year-olds lack these qualifications, compared with only 26% of 25 to 49-year-olds. Some variation by borough is probably due to the age profile of the borough, as older people (40 and over) are more likely to lack qualifications than younger adults. It may also indicate an educational attainment gap between local school leavers and incoming young professionals. 

There is little change in the pattern from the previous edition of this report, although the vast majority of boroughs have seen a decline in the proportion of adults lacking qualifications.