Employer Skills Survey 
Calendar year 2024

Description

This document describes the key data from the Employer Skills Survey 2024. It adds to the previously published data from the Employer Skills Survey 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

The technical report should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on sampling, data sources and the methodology used in producing the data.

Coverage

This release covers:

- Vacancy incidence, density and volume
- Hard to fill vacancy incidence, density and volume
- Skill-shortage vacancy incidence, density and volume
- Skill gap incidence, density and volume
- Average days of training per employee and trainee, total number of training days, number and proportion of employees trained, establishments arranging and paying for training in the past 12 months, and types of training arranged and paid for
- Vacancy measures by occupational group
- Employer investment in training

Data can be broken down by:

- UK nation and English region
- Sector (13 sector groups)
- Single or multi-site
- Site type
- Site size
- Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
- Mayoral Combined Authority - core indicators for 2022 and 2024 only
- Two digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) - core indicators for 2022 and 2024 only

File formats and conventions

All data files associated with this release are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

Data files

Core indicators

Filename: core_indicators_11_24.csv
Geographic levels: National; Regional
Time period: 2011 to 2024
Content summary: Covers vacancies, hard-to-fill vacancies, skill-shortage vacancies, skills gaps and training measures. Data can be broken down by country, region, sector, single or multi-site, site type and site size.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                     |  Variable description
--------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
basic_induction_training_inc      |  Percentage of sites providing basic induction training
e_learning_inc                    |  Percentage of sites arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
employees                         |  Number of employees
extensive_induction_training_inc  |  Percentage of sites providing extensive induction training
has_basic_induction_training      |  Number of sites providing basic induction training
has_e_learning                    |  Number of sites arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
has_extensive_induction_training  |  Number of sites providing extensive induction training
has_health_safety_training        |  Number of sites providing health and safety or first aid training
has_htfv                          |  Number of sites with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
has_job_specific_training         |  Number of sites providing job specific training
has_management_training           |  Number of sites providing management training
has_new_technology_training       |  Number of sites providing new technology training
has_offthejob_training            |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training             |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training_only        |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_skillgap                      |  Number of sites with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
has_ssv                           |  Number of sites with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
has_supervisory_training          |  Number of sites providing supervisory training
has_trained_base                  |  Number of sites in population who have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_training_in_general           |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_vac                           |  Number of sites with at least one vacancy
health_safety_training_inc        |  Percentage of sites providing health and safety or first aid training
htfv_den                          |  Hard-to-fill vacancy density (HtF vacancies as a share of vacancies)
htfv_inc                          |  Percentage of sites with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
htfv_sum                          |  Number of hard-to-fill vacancies
job_specific_training_inc         |  Percentage of sites providing job specific training
management_training_inc           |  Percentage of sites providing management training
new_technology_training_inc       |  Percentage of sites providing new technology training
offthejob_training_inc            |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_inc             |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_only_inc        |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
sample_size                       |  Unweighted base of sites
sample_size_w_vac                 |  Unweighted base of sites with vacancies
sector                            |  Sector - Filter by sector
single_or_multi_site              |  Single site or one of multiple sites within organisation - Filter by single or multi-sites
site_size                         |  Site size - Filter by site size
site_type                         |  Site type - Filter by site type
skillgap_den                      |  Skill gap density (the proportion of employees judged not fully proficient)
skillgap_inc                      |  Percentage of sites with at least one  skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
skillgaps                         |  Number of skill gaps (employees not fully proficient)
ssv_den                           |  Skill-shortage vacancy density (SSVs as a share of vacancies)
ssv_inc                           |  Percentage of sites with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
ssv_sum                           |  Number of skill-shortage vacancies
supervisory_training_inc          |  Percentage of sites providing supervisory training
train_days_employee               |  Average number of days training per employee
train_days_trainee                |  Average number of days training per trainee
trainees                          |  Number of employees trained in the past 12 months
training_days                     |  Total number of training days for employees
training_den                      |  Percentage of employees that received any training in the past 12 months
training_in_general_inc           |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
vac_den                           |  Vacancy density (vacancies as a proportion of employment)
vac_inc                           |  Percentage of sites with at least one vacancy
vac_sum                           |  Number of vacancies
weight_base                       |  Number of sites in population

Footnotes:

1. Prior to 2022, the definition for ‘off-the-job training’ was ‘training away from the individual’s immediate work position, whether on the employer’s premises or elsewhere’. This should be noted when comparing the latest results to pre-2022 waves.


Investment in training

Filename: iit_11_24.csv
Geographic levels: National; Regional
Time period: 2011 to 2024
Content summary: Covers total investment through training, as well as investment in training per employee and trainee. Original figures and figures adjusted for 2024 inflation. Indicators can be broken down by country, region, sector and site size.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                         |  Variable description
------------------------------------  |  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
employees                             |  Number of employees
iit_sample_size                       |  Sample size in the Investment in Training follow-up survey
sector                                |  Sector - Filter by sector
site_size                             |  Site size - Filter by site size
sum_off_job_mn                        |  Total employer investment through off-the-job training
sum_on_job_mn                         |  Total employer investment through on-the-job training
sum_total_mn                          |  Total employer investment through all training
total_per_employee                    |  Investment in training per employee
total_per_trainee                     |  Investment in training per trainee
trainees                              |  Number of trainees
twentyfour_inflaton_sum_off_job_mn    |  Total employer investment through off-the-job training, adjusted for 2024 prices
twentyfour_inflaton_sum_on_job_mn     |  Total employer investment through on-the-job training, adjusted for 2024 prices
twentyfour_prices_sum_total_mn        |  Total employer investment through all training, adjusted for 2024 prices
twentyfour_prices_total_per_employee  |  Investment in training per employee, adjusted for 2024 prices
twentyfour_prices_total_per_trainee   |  Investment in training per trainee, adjusted for 2024 prices

Footnotes:

1. Where Investment in Training figures for years preceding 2022 are presented, they may differ from those presented in earlier reports due to a change in the methodology used for calculating the labour cost up-weight. Please see Chapter 3 of the accompanying technical report for further detail.
2. 2011 to 2022 training expenditure figures have been adjusted to reflect inflation, so that in effect they are presented in ‘2024 prices.’ The adjustments used were an uplift of 43.4% for 2011; 35.9% for 2013; 33.9% for 2015; 29.5% for 2017; 24.2% for 2019; and 10.0% for 2022. Source: ONS, Consumer price inflation tables 2025 (2025), Table 38 (https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/datasets/consumerpriceinflation)


Mayoral Strategic Authorities - core indicators

Filename: mayoral_authority_core_indicators_22_24.csv
Geographic levels: English devolved area
Time period: 2022 to 2024
Content summary: Covers vacancies, hard-to-fill vacancies, skill-shortage vacancies, skills gaps and training measures for Mayoral Strategic Authorities.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                     |  Variable description
--------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
basic_induction_training_inc      |  Percentage of sites providing basic induction training
e_learning_inc                    |  Percentage of sites arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
employees                         |  Number of employees
extensive_induction_training_inc  |  Percentage of sites providing extensive induction training
has_basic_induction_training      |  Number of sites providing basic induction training
has_e_learning                    |  Number of sites arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
has_extensive_induction_training  |  Number of sites providing extensive induction training
has_health_safety_training        |  Number of sites providing health and safety or first aid training
has_htfv                          |  Number of sites with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
has_job_specific_training         |  Number of sites providing job specific training
has_management_training           |  Number of sites providing management training
has_new_technology_training       |  Number of sites providing new technology training
has_offthejob_training            |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training             |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training_only        |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_skillgap                      |  Number of sites with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
has_ssv                           |  Number of sites with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
has_supervisory_training          |  Number of sites providing supervisory training
has_trained_base                  |  Number of sites in population who have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_training_in_general           |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_vac                           |  Number of sites with at least one vacancy
health_safety_training_inc        |  Percentage of sites providing health and safety or first aid training
htfv_den                          |  Hard-to-fill vacancy density (HtF vacancies as a share of vacancies)
htfv_inc                          |  Percentage of sites with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
htfv_sum                          |  Number of hard-to-fill vacancies
job_specific_training_inc         |  Percentage of sites providing job specific training
management_training_inc           |  Percentage of sites providing management training
new_technology_training_inc       |  Percentage of sites providing new technology training
offthejob_training_inc            |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_inc             |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_only_inc        |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
sample_size                       |  Unweighted base of sites
sample_size_w_vac                 |  Unweighted base of sites with vacancies
skillgap_den                      |  Skill gap density (the proportion of employees judged not fully proficient)
skillgap_inc                      |  Percentage of sites with at least one  skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
skillgaps                         |  Number of skill gaps (employees not fully proficient)
ssv_den                           |  Skill-shortage vacancy density (SSVs as a share of vacancies)
ssv_inc                           |  Percentage of sites with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
ssv_sum                           |  Number of skill-shortage vacancies
supervisory_training_inc          |  Percentage of sites providing supervisory training
train_days_employee               |  Average number of days training per employee
train_days_trainee                |  Average number of days training per trainee
trainees                          |  Number of employees trained in the past 12 months
training_days                     |  Total number of training days for employees
training_den                      |  Percentage of employees that received any training in the past 12 months
training_in_general_inc           |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
vac_den                           |  Vacancy density (vacancies as a proportion of employment)
vac_inc                           |  Percentage of sites with at least one vacancy
vac_sum                           |  Number of vacancies
weight_base                       |  Number of sites in population


Two digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) - core indicators

Filename: twodigitsic_core_indicators_22_24.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2022 to 2024
Content summary: Covers vacancies, hard-to-fill vacancies, skill-shortage vacancies, skills gaps and training measures for two digit Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC).

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                     |  Variable description
--------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
basic_induction_training_inc      |  Percentage of sites providing basic induction training
e_learning_inc                    |  Percentage of sites arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
employees                         |  Number of employees
extensive_induction_training_inc  |  Percentage of sites providing extensive induction training
has_basic_induction_training      |  Number of sites providing basic induction training
has_e_learning                    |  Number of sites arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
has_extensive_induction_training  |  Number of sites providing extensive induction training
has_health_safety_training        |  Number of sites providing health and safety or first aid training
has_htfv                          |  Number of sites with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
has_job_specific_training         |  Number of sites providing job specific training
has_management_training           |  Number of sites providing management training
has_new_technology_training       |  Number of sites providing new technology training
has_offthejob_training            |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training             |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training_only        |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_skillgap                      |  Number of sites with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
has_ssv                           |  Number of sites with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
has_supervisory_training          |  Number of sites providing supervisory training
has_trained_base                  |  Number of sites in population who have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_training_in_general           |  Number of sites that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_vac                           |  Number of sites with at least one vacancy
health_safety_training_inc        |  Percentage of sites providing health and safety or first aid training
htfv_den                          |  Hard-to-fill vacancy density (HtF vacancies as a share of vacancies)
htfv_inc                          |  Percentage of sites with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
htfv_sum                          |  Number of hard-to-fill vacancies
job_specific_training_inc         |  Percentage of sites providing job specific training
management_training_inc           |  Percentage of sites providing management training
new_technology_training_inc       |  Percentage of sites providing new technology training
offthejob_training_inc            |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_inc             |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_only_inc        |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
sample_size                       |  Unweighted base of sites
sample_size_w_vac                 |  Unweighted base of sites with vacancies
skillgap_den                      |  Skill gap density (the proportion of employees judged not fully proficient)
skillgap_inc                      |  Percentage of sites with at least one  skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
skillgaps                         |  Number of skill gaps (employees not fully proficient)
ssv_den                           |  Skill-shortage vacancy density (SSVs as a share of vacancies)
ssv_inc                           |  Percentage of sites with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
ssv_sum                           |  Number of skill-shortage vacancies
supervisory_training_inc          |  Percentage of sites providing supervisory training
train_days_employee               |  Average number of days training per employee
train_days_trainee                |  Average number of days training per trainee
trainees                          |  Number of employees trained in the past 12 months
training_days                     |  Total number of training days for employees
training_den                      |  Percentage of employees that received any training in the past 12 months
training_in_general_inc           |  Percentage of sites that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
twodigit_sic                      |  Two digit standard industrial classification (SIC) - Filter by two digit standard industrial classification (SIC)
vac_den                           |  Vacancy density (vacancies as a proportion of employment)
vac_inc                           |  Percentage of sites with at least one vacancy
vac_sum                           |  Number of vacancies
weight_base                       |  Number of sites in population


Vacancy measures by occupational group (SOC2010)

Filename: vac_indicators_soc_11_22_SOC2010.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2011 to 2022
Content summary: Covers number of vacancies, hard to fill vacancies and skill-shortage vacancies, skill-shortage vacancy density and hard to fill vacancy density, by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2010. Indicators can be broken down by country and sector.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                        |  Variable description
-----------------------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
htfv_den                             |  Hard to fill vacancy density (as a percentage of vacancies for the SOC code)
htfv_sum                             |  Number of hard to fill vacancies
sample_occupations_site_has_vacancy  |  Number of occupations for which sites had at least one vacancy in the specific SOC code
sector                               |  Sector - Filter by sector
soc2010_1_labelled                   |  1 digit SOC2010 code and name - Filter by 1 digit SOC code (SOC2010)
soc2010_2_labelled                   |  2 digit SOC2010 code and name - Filter by 2 digit SOC code (SOC2010)
soc2010_3_labelled                   |  3 digit SOC2010 code and name - Filter by 3 digit SOC code (SOC2010)
soc2010_4_labelled                   |  4 digit SOC2010 code and name - Filter by 4 digit SOC code (SOC2010)
ssv_den                              |  Skill-shortage vacancy density (as a percentage of vacancies for the SOC code)
ssv_sum                              |  Number of skill-shortage vacancies
vac_sum                              |  Number of vacancies


Vacancy measures by occupational group (SOC2020)

Filename: vac_indicators_soc_22_24_SOC2020.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2022 to 2024
Content summary: Covers number of vacancies, hard to fill vacancies and skill-shortage vacancies, skill-shortage vacancy density and hard to fill vacancy density, by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020. Indicators can be broken down by country and sector.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                        |  Variable description
-----------------------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
htfv_den                             |  Hard to fill vacancy density (as a percentage of vacancies for the SOC code)
htfv_sum                             |  Number of hard to fill vacancies
sample_occupations_site_has_vacancy  |  Number of occupations for which sites had at least one vacancy in the specific SOC code
sector                               |  Sector - Filter by sector
soc2020_1_labelled                   |  1 digit SOC2020 code and name - Filter by 1 digit SOC code (SOC2020)
soc2020_2_labelled                   |  2 digit SOC2020 code and name - Filter by 2 digit SOC code (SOC2020)
soc2020_3_labelled                   |  3 digit SOC2020 code and name - Filter by 3 digit SOC code (SOC2020)
soc2020_4_labelled                   |  4 digit SOC2020 code and name - Filter by 4 digit SOC code (SOC2020)
ssv_den                              |  Skill-shortage vacancy density (as a percentage of vacancies for the SOC code)
ssv_sum                              |  Number of skill-shortage vacancies
vac_sum                              |  Number of vacancies
