Half of all working-age adults in the UK now hold a degree-level qualification or above, according to ONS Labour Force Survey data for Q4 2024. That figure has climbed six percentage points since 2019 and puts the UK well ahead of the OECD average. This article covers qualification distribution, regional gaps, higher education enrollment trends, and the earnings differences tied to each level.
Average Education Level in the UK: Key Statistics
- 50% of UK working-age adults (19–64) held a Level 4 or above qualification in Q4 2024, up from 44% in 2019.
- The UK’s tertiary attainment rate for 25–34 year olds reached 60% in 2024, against an OECD average of 48%.
- Postgraduate taught qualifications awarded in 2023/24 (497,220) exceeded first degrees for the first time on record.
- Workers with postgraduate qualifications earned a median real salary of £29,500 in 2024, versus £19,500 for non-graduates.
- London had 57% of its labour force qualified to Level 4 or above — 21 percentage points above the East Midlands (36%).
How Does the UK Adult Qualification Distribution Break Down?
The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) runs from Entry Level through to Level 8. The ONS Labour Force Survey tracks how UK adults aged 19–64 sit within this framework each quarter.
By Q4 2024, 84% of working-age adults held at least a Level 2 qualification (equivalent to GCSEs at grade 4 and above). The 16% below Level 2 — or with no formal qualifications at all — is not evenly spread. Regional location, disability status, and ethnicity each affect this figure.
| 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+ | 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 by Region
London holds the highest share of Level 4+ qualified workers in its labour force at 57%. The City of London specifically exceeds 82%. At the other end, the East Midlands sits at 36%, with most English regions and Wales clustered in a 36–42% range.
The ONS notes that the qualification gap between regions does not follow a simple north-south pattern. That divide is more pronounced in productivity and income data than in raw attainment figures.
| Region / Nation | % of Labour Force with Level 4+ Qualifications |
|---|---|
| City of London | 82%+ |
| London (overall) | 57% |
| UK average (workers and jobseekers) | ~42% |
| Most other English regions / Wales | 36–42% |
| East Midlands | 36% |
Source: ONS – How Workforce Qualification Levels Differ Across England and Wales, Census 2021
UK Higher Education Enrollment: What Do the 2023/24 Numbers Show?
Total higher education enrollment in 2023/24 reached 2,904,425 students — a 1% fall from 2022/23, the first annual decline since the 2012–15 period. The drop was driven almost entirely by a 10% fall in non-EU postgraduate taught students following changes to UK visa policy. Among UK-domiciled students, movement was considerably smaller.
Women accounted for 57% of all enrollments. Business and Management remained the most popular subject at 21% of all enrollments. Computing grew 5% in entrant numbers between 2022/23 and 2023/24, one of only three subjects to expand.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total HE students enrolled | 2,904,425 |
| Change vs. 2022/23 | –1% (first fall since 2012–15) |
| Female share of total enrollment | 57% |
| First degree as share of all enrollments | 65% |
| Most popular subject (by enrollment share) | Business & Management (21%) |
| Postgraduate taught qualifications awarded | 497,220 |
Source: HESA – Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2023/24
Subject Enrollment Growth, 2022/23 to 2023/24
Most subjects held steady or fell slightly. Three grew: Computing (+5%), Veterinary Sciences (+6%), and Medicine and Dentistry (+1%). Business and Management’s share of total enrollments also rose, from 19% in 2021/22 to 21% in 2023/24.
Postgraduate Attainment and Earnings in the UK
In 2023/24, postgraduate taught qualifications awarded (497,220) exceeded first degrees for the first time on record. Non-UK students account for 64% of those postgraduate awards, reflecting how international demand has reshaped the upper end of UK higher education over the past decade.
The earnings gap between qualification levels in 2024 is substantial. Graduate and postgraduate earners each sit around £7,000 above the tier below them in real-terms median salary.
| Qualification Level | Median Nominal Salary (2024) | Median Real Salary (2024, CPIH-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate | £47,000 | £29,500 |
| Graduate | £42,000 | £26,500 |
| Non-graduate | — | £19,500 |
Source: DfE – Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2024; real figures adjusted using ONS CPIH (March 2025)
Employment Outcomes by Qualification Level in the UK
Non-graduates experienced the sharpest labour market deterioration in 2024. Their employment rate fell 0.7 percentage points while their unemployment rate rose 0.5 percentage points. Economic inactivity among non-graduates stood at 27.6% in 2023, against 9.6% for graduates — a gap of 18 percentage points.
Postgraduate holders saw the opposite trend: their employment rate rose 0.6 percentage points and unemployment edged down 0.1 percentage points over the same period.
| 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 |
| Economic inactivity rate (2023) | 27.6% | 9.6% | 8.7% |
| Unemployment rate, 25–34 year olds (2024) | 8.7% | — | 2.9% (tertiary) |
Source: DfE – Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2024; OECD – Education at a Glance 2025
How Does UK Average Education Level Compare to Other Countries?
Among 25–34 year olds, the UK’s 60% tertiary attainment rate in 2024 exceeded the OECD average of 48% by 12 percentage points. That figure has risen from 52% in 2019, an eight-point increase in five years.
UK unemployment for people without upper secondary qualifications (8.7%) is also well below the OECD average of 12.9% for the same group, though the domestic earnings and employment gap between qualification tiers has widened since 2019.
| 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 | 2.9% | 4.9% |
Source: OECD – Education at a Glance 2025, UK Country Note
A-Level Attainment and Level 3 Statistics in the UK
The average A-level point score per entry in 2024/25 was 36.09, up 0.54 points from the year before. That shift is roughly a twentieth of a grade across the cohort — meaningful but not structural. Female students outperformed male students on average point scores, a trend running for at least five consecutive years.
Among 16–17 year olds, the NEET (not in education, employment or training) rate was 4.0% in April–June 2024. For 18–24 year olds, that figure rose to 14.5% — up 0.9 percentage points year-on-year, with young men accounting for most of that increase (their rate rose 1.7 percentage points).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average A-level point score per entry (2024/25) | 36.09 |
| Change vs. 2023/24 | +0.54 points |
| % of 16–17 year olds NEET (April–June 2024) | 4.0% |
| % of 18–24 year olds NEET (April–June 2024) | 14.5% |
| Year-on-year change in 18–24 NEET rate | +0.9 pp (young men: +1.7 pp) |
Source: GOV.UK Explore Education Statistics – A Level and Other 16 to 18 Results 2024/25
FAQ
What is the average education level in the UK?
As of Q4 2024, 50% of UK working-age adults (aged 19–64) hold a degree-level (Level 4+) qualification. A further 18% hold Level 3 qualifications such as A-levels or BTECs, bringing the Level 3 and above total to 68%.
How does UK degree 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%. That 12-percentage-point gap has widened since 2019, when UK attainment was 52%.
Which region of the UK has the highest qualification levels?
London has the highest share at 57% of its labour force qualified to Level 4 or above. The City of London exceeds 82%. The East Midlands has the lowest share among English regions at 36%.
What is the earnings difference between graduates and non-graduates in the UK?
In 2024, the median real salary for graduates was £26,500, compared to £19,500 for non-graduates — a £7,000 gap. Postgraduates earned a median of £29,500 in real terms.
How many students are enrolled in UK higher education?
In 2023/24, 2,904,425 students were enrolled in UK higher education — a 1% fall from the previous year, the first annual decline since 2012–15, driven mainly by a drop in international postgraduate students.
