Half of all working-age adults in the UK now hold a degree-level qualification or above, according to the ONS Labour Force Survey for Q4 2024. That figure sits six percentage points above where it was in 2019, and 12 points ahead of the OECD average for 25- to 34-year-olds. This article covers qualification distribution by tier, higher education enrollment figures, earnings by qualification level, regional gaps, and how the UK compares internationally.
- 50% of UK working-age adults (19–64) hold a Level 4+ qualification as of Q4 2024, up from 44% in 2019.
- The UK’s tertiary attainment rate for 25–34 year olds is 60%, against an OECD average of 48%.
- Non-graduates earn a median real salary of £19,500, compared to £26,500 for graduates and £29,500 for postgraduates.
- London’s Level 4+ attainment stands at 57%, while the East Midlands records just 36%.
- Postgraduate taught qualifications awarded in 2023/24 (497,220) exceeded first degrees for the first time on record.
How Qualified Is the UK Working-Age Population?
The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) runs from Entry Level through to Level 8. The ONS Labour Force Survey tracks where UK adults aged 19–64 sit within that framework each quarter.
In Q4 2024, 84% of working-age adults held at least a Level 2 qualification — the GCSE threshold. The 16% without Level 2 is not spread evenly: disability status, region, and ethnicity all affect who falls into that group.
| Qualification Level | RQF Equivalent | % of UK Adults Aged 19–64 (Q4 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 4 or above | Bachelor’s degree and above | 50% |
| Level 3 or above | A-levels, BTECs, apprenticeships | 68% |
| Level 2 or above | GCSEs at grade 4+ (C and above) | 84% |
| Below Level 2 / no qualifications | No formal qualifications | ~16% |
Source: GOV.UK Explore Education Statistics – Education and Training Statistics for the UK 2025 (ONS LFS Q4 2024)
Average Education Level in the UK: A-Level and Upper Secondary Results
Level 3 covers A-levels, BTECs, T Levels, and other applied general qualifications taken between ages 16 and 18. The average A-level point score per entry rose 0.54 points in 2024/25 to 36.09 — a marginal shift, not a structural one.
Female students continue to outperform male students on average point scores, a trend that has held for at least five consecutive years. The 18–24 NEET rate (14.5%) is considerably higher than the 16–17 rate (4.0%), reflecting the transition from compulsory participation to the open labour market.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average A-level point score per entry (APS), 2024/25 | 36.09 |
| Change vs. 2023/24 | +0.54 points |
| 16–17 year olds NEET (April–June 2024) | 4.0% |
| 18–24 year olds NEET (April–June 2024) | 14.5% |
| Year-on-year change in 18–24 NEET rate | +0.9 percentage points |
Source: GOV.UK Explore Education Statistics – A Level and Other 16 to 18 Results 2024/25; GOV.UK Education and Training Statistics 2024
UK Degree-Level Attainment: Higher Education Enrollment in 2023/24
Total higher education enrollment reached 2,904,425 in 2023/24, a 1% fall from the year before — the first annual decline since 2012–15. The drop came almost entirely from a 10% fall in non-EU postgraduate taught students following UK visa policy changes. Domestic enrollment moved far less.
Business and Management remained the most-chosen subject area, accounting for 21% of all enrollments. Computing saw a 5% increase in entrant enrollments between 2022/23 and 2023/24, one of just three subjects to record growth alongside Medicine and Dentistry (+1%) and Veterinary Sciences (+6%).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total HE students enrolled (2023/24) | 2,904,425 |
| Change vs. 2022/23 | –1% (first fall since 2012–15) |
| Female share of total enrollment | 57% |
| First degrees as share of all enrollments | 65% |
| Most popular subject | Business & Management (21% of enrollments) |
| Computing enrollment change (entrants) | +5% year-on-year |
Source: HESA – Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2023/24
Postgraduate Qualifications: Attainment and Salary Outcomes
In 2023/24, postgraduate taught qualifications awarded (497,220) exceeded first degrees for the first time on record. That figure reflects a decade of growth in master’s enrollment, driven largely by international students: 64% of postgraduate qualifications went to non-UK students.
In real terms (adjusted using ONS CPIH, March 2025), the salary gap between postgraduate and graduate earners is £7,000 (£29,500 vs. £26,500). The same gap separates graduate from non-graduate earners (£26,500 vs. £19,500).
| Qualification Level | Median Nominal Salary (2024) | Median Real Salary (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate | £47,000 | £29,500 |
| Graduate | £42,000 | £26,500 |
| Non-graduate | — | £19,500 |
Source: DfE – Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2024
Average Education Level in the UK: Employment Outcomes by Qualification
Non-graduate employment conditions deteriorated the most in 2024: their employment rate fell 0.7 percentage points while unemployment rose 0.5 percentage points. Graduates saw marginal changes. Postgraduates saw a small improvement, with unemployment down 0.1 percentage points.
The starkest figure is economic inactivity: 27.6% of non-graduates of working age were economically inactive in 2023, against 9.6% for graduates. Among 25–34 year olds, non-graduates faced an 8.7% unemployment rate, against 2.9% for those with tertiary education.
| Outcome Measure | Non-Graduate | Graduate | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate change (2024) | –0.7 pp | Stable | +0.6 pp |
| Unemployment rate change (2024) | +0.5 pp | +0.1 pp | –0.1 pp |
| Unemployment rate, 25–34 year olds (2024) | 8.7% | — | 2.9% (tertiary) |
| Economic inactivity rate (2023) | 27.6% | 9.6% | 8.7% |
Source: DfE – Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2024; OECD – Education at a Glance 2025, UK Country Note
Average Education Level in the UK by Region
London’s Level 4+ attainment stands at 57%, about 15 percentage points above the next highest region. The East Midlands records the lowest rate at 36%. Most English regions outside London, plus Wales, fall in the 36–42% range.
The ONS notes there is no clear north-south divide in qualifications at regional level — unlike productivity and income, where the geographic gap is more pronounced. The City of London is an extreme outlier, with Level 4+ attainment above 82%.
| Region / Nation | % of Labour Force with Level 4+ Qualifications |
|---|---|
| London | 57% |
| UK average (workers and jobseekers) | ~42% |
| Wales and English regions (excl. London) | 36–42% |
| East Midlands | 36% |
Source: ONS – How Workforce Qualification Levels Differ Across England and Wales, Census 2021
UK Education Levels vs OECD Averages
The UK’s 60% tertiary attainment rate for 25–34 year olds is 12 percentage points above the OECD average of 48%. That rate has risen from 52% in 2019, an eight-point gain in five years.
On unemployment, the UK outperforms the OECD average at both ends of the qualification scale. Among 25–34 year olds without upper secondary education, UK unemployment sits at 8.7%, well below the OECD average of 12.9%. For those with tertiary qualifications, the UK rate is 2.9% against an OECD average of 4.9%.
| Metric | UK (2024) | OECD Average (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Tertiary attainment, 25–34 year olds | 60% | 48% |
| Master’s degree holders, 25–34 year olds | 17% | 16% |
| 25–34 year olds without upper secondary | 12% | 13% |
| Unemployment, 25–34 without upper secondary | 8.7% | 12.9% |
| Unemployment, 25–34 with tertiary education | 2.9% | 4.9% |
Source: OECD – Education at a Glance 2025, UK Country Note
FAQ
What percentage of UK adults have a degree?
50% of UK working-age adults aged 19–64 hold a degree-level (Level 4+) qualification or above, according to the ONS Labour Force Survey for Q4 2024. That figure was 44% in 2019.
How does UK education attainment compare to the OECD average?
The UK’s tertiary attainment rate for 25–34 year olds is 60%, against an OECD average of 48%. The UK has increased that rate by eight percentage points since 2019.
Which region of the UK has the highest qualification levels?
London has the highest Level 4+ attainment at 57% of its labour force, about 15 percentage points above most other English regions. The East Midlands records the lowest rate at 36%.
Does a degree significantly affect earnings in the UK?
In real terms, graduates earn a median salary of £26,500 versus £19,500 for non-graduates — a £7,000 gap. Postgraduates earn £29,500, another £7,000 above graduates. Source: DfE Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2024.
How many students are enrolled in UK higher education?
2,904,425 students were enrolled in UK higher education in 2023/24, a 1% fall from 2022/23 — the first annual decline in nearly a decade, driven by a drop in non-EU postgraduate students.
