UCU releases details of regions’ ‘qualification deserts’

Unqualified youngsters four times more likely to be unemployed than students with an A-level

UCU today said the current jungle of further education funding streams was a nightmare to negotiate and needed urgent simplification. The union said access to qualifications was vital as figures showed that youngsters with no qualifications were over four times more likely to be unemployed than those with an A-level.

UCU has analysed over 200 local authorities, including major towns, cities and counties to show the number of 16-24 year-olds without qualifications.  The results reveal stark differences. The average percentage of 16-24 year olds with no qualifications is 11.5%, but the figure is as high as one in four in parts of London and the West Midlands.

More information and full tables on the UCU website.