Search results

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) was commissioned by the UK Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to carry out a follow-up study of people who had participated in the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and who had gained a level two National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in adult life. Its aims were to: provide information on the perceived benefits of a level two NVQ; learn about the experience of level two NVQ acquisition; learn about the background and motivations of people obtaining level two NVQs; and relate these factors to the impact of the qualification. Some of the findings from this study are: overall, 73% of those surveyed were working at the time they obtained their level two NVQ; employers were reported to have provided funding for 65% of those working when they studied for their NVQ; the length of time people take to complete an NVQ level two qualification varies quite considerably; overall, 40% of respondents were in a different job at the follow-up survey interview from the one they had when they acquired their level two; and although some respondents felt that the NVQ had been useful in getting them better pay, there is little evidence that obtaining a NVQ level two qualification is associated with a statistically significant increase in earnings compared with employees with other qualifications.