Guide to using the 2011 Employer Skills Survey data tables
Updated 11 February 2016
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/ukces-employer-skills-survey-2011-data-tables/detailed-guide-uk-employer-skills-survey-2011
There are two sets of tables available for UKCESS 2011. The purpose of this detailed guide is to explain the difference between the two and help you identify which set of tables you need.
UKCESS 2011 was the first UK wide employer skills survey undertaken. Prior to this, each nation in the UK gathered their own labour market intelligence on employer skills needs and engagement with the skills system in their nation.
However, there were differences in the types of employers that each of the surveys interviewed. The previous skills surveys in Scotland and Northern Ireland covered all establishments with 1 or more employees in addition to any working proprietors. The previous skills surveys in England and Wales covered establishments with 2 or more people working at the site regardless of their working status. None of the surveys covered establishments with just one working proprietor.
The 2011 UKCESS survey combined these approaches and sampled from all these groups across all of the UK. The original 2011 UK tables below include data from all of these establishments. The only type of establishments that weren’t included were those with just one working proprietor.
The original 2011 individual nation tables only include establishments which match the previous sample used by that nation prior to 2011. Therefore the original England and Wales 2011 tables include establishments with at least 2 people at the site, whereas the tables for Scotland and Northern Ireland include establishments with at least one employee working at the site.
For UKCES 2013, the sample previously used for England and Wales was used for the whole of the UK. The reasons for this change are outlined in the technical report . In order to have 2011 tables which matched the 2013 sample, the 2011 data was re-weighted and new 2011 UK tables were produced. Similarly, new 2011 nation tables were created which matched the 2013 sample to allow comparisons between the 2011 and 2013 data. The table below gives a guide as to which version of the 2011 tables to use:
| Date Published | When to use | Link to tables | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original 2011 UK tables | July 2012 | Use these if you are looking for figures which are comparable to the 2011 UK report | Original 2011 UK |
| New 2011 UK tables | January 2014 | Use these if you want to compare the 2011 results against results for 2013 | New 2011 UK |
| Original 2011 nation tables | Autumn 2012 | Use these if you are looking for figures which are comparable to the 2011 individual nation reports or survey data prior to 2011 for each nation. | England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales |
| New 2011 nation tables | Spring 2014 | Use these tables if you want to compare nation results against nation results for 2013. These tables can be found as part of the nation data toolkits. | England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales |