Training in the public sector in a period of austerity: the case of the UK

Figures & data

Figure 1. Training participation rate in the UK by sector, 2000–2012.

Notes: Since training varies seasonally, we present findings from data that have been aggregated over the four-quarters in each year. Here, we report on the four-week training participation rate for workers aged 16–65.

Source: Own calculations from LFSs 2000–2012.

Table 1. Training participation rate in the UK by public sector dominated industries, 2000–2012.

	Public administration	Education	Health
2000	21.7	22.5	22.5
2001	22.4	23.7	23.3
2002	21.4	22.7	24.4
2003	21.3	21.6	25.1
2004	21.1	21.2	25.3
2005	20.9	21.7	25.0
2006	18.8	21.1	24.4
2007	19.3	20.4	23.1
2008	19.9	20.1	22.8
2009	18.9	20.2	22.8
2010	17.5	18.8	22.6
2011	17.8	18.8	22.6
2012	18.1	18.3	23.5

Source: Adapted from Felstead, Green, and Jewson (2013): Table 4.2.

Table 2. Trends in institutional supports for training by sector and within the public sector, England, 2005–2011.

	2005	2007	2009	2011
By sector
Training plan^a
All	44.8	47.4	43.1	42.2
Private	41.4	44.4	40.2	39.2
Public	82.7	82.2	78.1	74.6
Voluntary	64.8	64.3	55.8	55.0
Training budget
All	33.1	36.5	35.6	32.0
Private	28.5	31.9	31.1	27.8
Public	79.8	83.9	78.8	66.1
Voluntary	66.0	67.3	63.8	56.2
Within the public sector^b
Training plan
Public administration	81.2	70.4	78.6	73.9
Education	87.0	86.1	82.5	78.1
Health	82.5	85.0	78.7	79.2
Other community	82.9	85.3	71.6	68.0
Training budget
Public administration	82.1	86.5	80.9	72.5
Education	92.4	94.6	93.1	89.6
Health	65.4	65.4	63.3	52.0
Other community	73.2	76.9	72.3	69.5

Notes: ^aAll respondents are asked: ‘Does your establishment have any of the following: A training plan that specifies in advance the level and type of training your employees will need in the coming year; and a budget for training expenditure?’ The 2011 added, if applicable to the latter: ‘which specially covers training spend at this site’.

^b This panel classifies public sector establishments by industrial group. The public sector refers to establishments that are not ‘seeking to make a profit’ or operate as a charity or voluntary organisation. Industrial groups are defined by the Standard Industrial Classification system (2007) for the years 2009 and 2011 and by the earlier version of 2003 version of SIC for the years 2005 and 2007.

Source: Own calculations from NESS 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Felstead, A., F. Green, and N. Jewson. 2013. Training in Recession: The Impact of the 2008–2009 Recession on Training at Work. UKCES Evidence Report No 72. September. Wath-upon-Dearne: UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

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