Highest level of qualification by NS-SeC (National Statistics Socio-economic Classification) (alternative classification) (Northern Ireland) 2011

Dataset population: Persons aged 16 to 74

Highest level of qualification

The highest level of qualification is derived from the question asking people to indicate all types of qualifications held. People were also asked if they held foreign qualifications and to indicate the closest equivalent.

There were 12 response options (plus 'no qualifications') covering professional and vocational qualifications, and a range of academic qualifications.

These are combined into five categories for the highest level of qualification, plus a category for no qualifications and one for other qualifications (which includes vocational or work-related qualifications, and for foreign qualifications where an equivalent qualification was not indicated):

• No Qualifications: No academic or professional qualifications
• Level 1 qualifications: 1-4 O Levels/CSE/GCSEs (any grades), Entry Level, Foundation Diploma, NVQ level 1, Foundation GNVQ, Basic/Essential Skills
• Level 2 qualifications: 5+ O Level (Passes)/CSEs (Grade 1)/GCSEs (Grades A*-C), School Certificate, 1 A Level/ 2-3 AS Levels/VCEs, Intermediate/Higher Diploma, Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma, NVQ level 2, Intermediate GNVQ, City and Guilds Craft, BTEC First/General Diploma, RSA Diploma
• Apprenticeships
• Level 3 qualifications: 2+ A Levels/VCEs, 4+ AS Levels, Higher School Certificate, Progression/Advanced Diploma, Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma, NVQ Level 3; Advanced GNVQ, City and Guilds Advanced Craft, ONC, OND, BTEC National, RSA Advanced Diploma
• Level 4+ qualifications: Degree (for example BA, BSc), Higher Degree (for example MA, PhD, PGCE), NVQ Level 4-5, HNC, HND, RSA Higher Diploma, BTEC Higher level, Foundation degree (NI), Professional qualifications (for example teaching, nursing, accountancy)
• Other qualifications: Vocational/Work-related Qualifications, Foreign Qualifications (Not stated/Level unknown)

NS-SeC (alternate classification)

The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) provides an indication of socio-economic position based on occupation. It is an Office for National Statistics standard classification. To assign a person to an NS-SeC category, their occupation title is combined with information about their employment status, whether they are employed or self-employed, and whether or not they supervise other employees. Full-time students are recorded in the 'full-time students' category regardless of whether they are economically active or not.

The rebased version of NS-SeC used in census results uses occupation coded to SOC2010. More information can be found on NS-SeC rebased on SOC2010.

The census did not ask a question about the number of employees at a person's workplace and as such, the reduced method of deriving NS-SeC (which does not require this information) is used. Note that the category 'L16: Occupation not stated or inadequately described' is not included in census tables because missing answers are imputed.