Education

  • There were 75,640 schoolchildren and full-time students (23.7%) in 2021 across Sandwell, higher than the England and Wales figure of 20.4%.
  • More than 1 in 5 (22.7%) usual Sandwell residents aged 16 years and over had Level 4 or above qualifications (for example, Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor's degree and post-graduate qualifications). This compares with 33.8% in England & Wales.
  • In 2021, almost 30% of Sandwell residents aged 16 and over (28.9%, 76,840) reported having no qualifications. This is much higher than the England & Wales figure of 18.2%.
  • Across Sandwell, apprenticeships were the highest qualification for 4.8% of people (12,760).

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    ** Residents of England and Wales aged 16 years and over were asked to record any qualifications (including academic, vocational, and professional qualifications) they had achieved in England, Wales or worldwide. This is used to calculate the highest level of qualification (so, the highest level of qualification that an individual reported irrespective of previous qualifications listed) using the following categories:

  • no qualifications: no formal qualifications
  • Level 1: one to four GCSE passes (grade A* to C or grade 4 and above) and any other GCSEs at other grades, or equivalent qualifications
  • Level 2: five or more GCSE passes (grade A* to C or grade 4 and above) or equivalent qualifications
  • apprenticeships
  • Level 3: two or more A Levels or equivalent qualifications
  • Level 4 or above: Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor's degree, or post-graduate qualifications
  • other qualifications, of unknown level

    • Economic Activity and Travel to Work

    Census 2021 took place during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a period of unparalleled and rapid change; the national lockdown, associated guidance and furlough measures will have affected the labour market topic. Take care when using these data for planning and policy purposes.

  • At Census Day, 21 March 2021, 155,190 usual residents aged 16 years and over in Sandwell were economically active (58.4% compared with 60.6% in England & Wales), while 110,830 (41.7%) were economically inactive (compared with 39.4% nationally).
  • Among usual residents aged 16 years and over, almost half were employees (46.3%, 123,000, compared with 47.6% nationally), almost 1 in 15 were self-employed (6.8%, 18,070) and a further 5.3% (14,125) were unemployed but looking for work. This compares with 9.6% and 3.4% nationally.
  • 4% of usual residents aged 16 years and over were economically inactive because of retirement (compared with 21.6% In England & Wales).
  • Census 2021 estimates that 26,350 (18.7%) usual residents aged 16 years and over in employment in Sandwell worked mainly at or from home in the week before Census Day, 21 March 2021. This compares with 31.2% nationally.
  • Almost 115,000 usual residents aged 16 years and over in employment (81.3%) gave a method other than “at or from home”.
  • The most selected mode of travel to work was driving a car or a van (52.9%, 74,590 of all usual residents aged 16 years and over in employment).

    • Industry and Occupation

  • The largest number of Sandwell usual residents aged 16 years and over in employment the week before Census Day, 21 March 2021, worked within the broad wholesale, retail and motor trade industry (17.4%, 24,550 out of 141,070 in employment, compared with 15.0% in England & Wales).
  • Employment in the manufacturing industry decreased by 3.1 percentage points (11.5%, 16,280 in 2021, compared with 14.6%, 18,740 in 2011), whereas employment in human health and social work activities increased by 2.7 percentage points (15.8%, 22,320 in 2021, compared with 13.1%, 16,810 in 2011).
  • In Sandwell, more people were employed in elementary occupations compared with any other broad occupation categories (15.6%, 21,980 people). Nationally the category which employs the largest number of people is professional occupations (20.2%).
  • The most common socio-economic classification in Sandwell was routine occupations (18.1% of usual residents aged 16 years and over, 48,140). In England & Wales the most common was lower managerial, administrative and professional occupations (19.9%).