Calendar year 2022

Employer Skills Survey

Data guidance

Published

Description

This document describes the key data from the Employer Skills Survey 2022. It also publishes previously published research from the Employer Skills Survey 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 as official statistics. This document brings together some of the key indicators and filters from the survey. 

The technical documentation (opens in a new tab) 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
  • Establishment type
  • Establishment size
  • Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
  • Mayoral Combined Authority - core indicators for 2022 only
  • Two digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) - core indicators for 2022 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

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

Core indicators

Filename
core_indicators_11_22.csv
Geographic levels
National; Regional
Time period
2011 to 2022
Content

The total volume, incidence and density of skill gaps, vacancies, hard to fill vacancies and skill-shortage vacancies, as well as average and total days of training, number and proportion of employees trained, types of training arranged and paid for and establishments arranging or paying for training, between 2011 and 2022. Indicators can be broken down by UK nation, English region, sector, site type, establishment type and establishment size.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
basic_induction_training_incPercentage of establishments providing basic induction training
e_learning_incPercentage of establishments arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
employeesNumber of employees
estab_sizeEstablishment size - Filter by establishment size
estab_typeEstablishment type - Filter by establishment type
extensive_induction_training_incPercentage of establishments providing extensive induction training
has_basic_induction_trainingNumber of establishments providing basic induction training
has_e_learningNumber of establishments arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
has_extensive_induction_trainingNumber of establishments providing extensive induction training
has_health_safety_trainingNumber of establishments providing health and safety or first aid training
has_htfvNumber of establishments with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
has_job_specific_trainingNumber of establishments providing job specific training
has_management_trainingNumber of establishments providing management training
has_new_technology_trainingNumber of establishments providing new technology training
has_offthejob_trainingNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_trainingNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training_onlyNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_skillgapNumber of establishments with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
has_ssvNumber of establishments with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
has_supervisory_trainingNumber of establishments providing supervisory training
has_trained_baseNumber of establishments in population who have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_training_in_generalNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_vacNumber of establishments with at least one vacancy
health_safety_training_incPercentage of establishments providing health and safety or first aid training
htfv_denHard-to-fill vacancy density (HtF vacancies as a share of vacancies)
htfv_incPercentage of establishments with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
htfv_sumNumber of hard-to-fill vacancies
job_specific_training_incPercentage of establishments providing job specific training
management_training_incPercentage of establishments providing management training
new_technology_training_incPercentage of establishments providing new technology training
offthejob_training_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_only_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
sample_sizeUnweighted base of establishments
sample_size_w_vacUnweighted base of establishments with vacancies
sectorSector - Filter by sector
single_or_multi_siteSingle site or one of multiple sites within organisation - Filter by single or multi-sites
skillgap_denSkill gap density (the proportion of employees judged not fully proficient)
skillgap_incPercentage of establishments with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
skillgapsNumber of skill gaps (employees not fully proficient)
ssv_denSkill-shortage vacancy density (SSVs as a share of vacancies)
ssv_incPercentage of establishments with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
ssv_sumNumber of skill-shortage vacancies
supervisory_training_incPercentage of establishments providing supervisory training
train_days_employeeAverage number of days training per employee
train_days_traineeAverage number of days training per trainee
traineesNumber of employees trained in the past 12 months
training_daysTotal number of training days for employees
training_denProportion of employees that received any training in the past 12 months
training_in_general_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
vac_denVacancy density (vacancies as a proportion of employment)
vac_incPercentage of establishments with at least one vacancy
vac_sumNumber of vacancies
weight_baseNumber of establishments 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 2022 results to previous waves.

Investment in training

Filename
iit_11_22.csv
Geographic levels
National; Regional
Time period
2011 to 2022
Content

The total investment through all training, off-the-job training and on-the-job training, as well as investment in training per employee and trainee between 2011 and 2022. Original figures and figures adjusted for 2022 inflation are included. Indicators can be broken down by UK nation, region, sector and establishment size.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
employeesNumber of employees
estab_sizeEstablishment size - Filter by establishment size
iit_sample_sizeSample size in the Investment in Training follow-up survey
sectorSector - Filter by sector
sum_off_job_mnTotal investment through off-the-job training
sum_on_job_mnTotal investment through on-the-job training
sum_total_mnTotal investment through all training
total_per_employeeInvestment in training per employee
total_per_traineeInvestment in training per trainee
traineesNumber of trainees
twentytwo_inflaton_sum_off_job_mnTotal investment through off-the-job training, adjusted for 2022 prices
twentytwo_inflaton_sum_on_job_mnTotal investment through on-the-job training, adjusted for 2022 prices
twentytwo_prices_sum_total_mnTotal investment through all training, adjusted for 2022 prices
twentytwo_prices_total_per_employeeInvestment in training per employee, adjusted for 2022 prices
twentytwo_prices_total_per_traineeInvestment in training per trainee, adjusted for 2022 prices
Footnotes
  1. Where Investment in Training figures for previous years are presented in the 2022 report, 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 section 3 of the accompanying technical documentation for further detail.
  2. We have adjusted 2011 to 2019 training expenditure figures to reflect inflation, so that in effect they are presented in ‘2022 prices.’ The adjustments used were an uplift of 30.3% for 2011; 23.6% for 2013; 21.7% for 2015; 17.7% for 2017; and 12.9% for 2019. Source: ONS, Consumer price inflation tables 2023 (2023), Table 20a.

Mayoral Combined Authority - core indicators

Filename
mayoral_authority_core_indicators_22.csv
Geographic levels
English devolved area
Time period
2022
Content

The total volume, incidence and density of skill gaps, vacancies, hard to fill vacancies and skill-shortage vacancies, as well as average and total days of training, number and proportion of employees trained, types of training arranged and paid for and establishments arranging or paying for training, for Mayoral Combined Authorities in 2022. Indicators can be broken down by sector, site type, establishment type and establishment size.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
basic_induction_training_incPercentage of establishments providing basic induction training
e_learning_incPercentage of establishments arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
employeesNumber of employees
estab_sizeEstablishment size - Filter by establishment size
estab_typeEstablishment type - Filter by establishment type
extensive_induction_training_incPercentage of establishments providing extensive induction training
has_basic_induction_trainingNumber of establishments providing basic induction training
has_e_learningNumber of establishments arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
has_extensive_induction_trainingNumber of establishments providing extensive induction training
has_health_safety_trainingNumber of establishments providing health and safety or first aid training
has_htfvNumber of establishments with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
has_job_specific_trainingNumber of establishments providing job specific training
has_management_trainingNumber of establishments providing management training
has_new_technology_trainingNumber of establishments providing new technology training
has_offthejob_trainingNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_trainingNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training_onlyNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_skillgapNumber of establishments with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
has_ssvNumber of establishments with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
has_supervisory_trainingNumber of establishments providing supervisory training
has_trained_baseNumber of establishments in population who have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_training_in_generalNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_vacNumber of establishments with at least one vacancy
health_safety_training_incPercentage of establishments providing health and safety or first aid training
htfv_denHard-to-fill vacancy density (HtF vacancies as a share of vacancies)
htfv_incPercentage of establishments with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
htfv_sumNumber of hard-to-fill vacancies
job_specific_training_incPercentage of establishments providing job specific training
management_training_incPercentage of establishments providing management training
new_technology_training_incPercentage of establishments providing new technology training
offthejob_training_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_only_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
sample_sizeUnweighted base of establishments
sample_size_w_vacUnweighted base of establishments with vacancies
sectorSector - Filter by sector
single_or_multi_siteSingle site or one of multiple sites within organisation - Filter by single or multi-sites
skillgap_denSkill gap density (the proportion of employees judged not fully proficient)
skillgap_incPercentage of establishments with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
skillgapsNumber of skill gaps (employees not fully proficient)
ssv_denSkill-shortage vacancy density (SSVs as a share of vacancies)
ssv_incPercentage of establishments with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
ssv_sumNumber of skill-shortage vacancies
supervisory_training_incPercentage of establishments providing supervisory training
train_days_employeeAverage number of days training per employee
train_days_traineeAverage number of days training per trainee
traineesNumber of employees trained in the past 12 months
training_daysTotal number of training days for employees
training_denProportion of employees that received any training in the past 12 months
training_in_general_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
vac_denVacancy density (vacancies as a proportion of employment)
vac_incPercentage of establishments with at least one vacancy
vac_sumNumber of vacancies
weight_baseNumber of establishments 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 2022 results to previous waves.

Two digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) - core indicators

Filename
twodigitsic_core_indicators_22.csv
Geographic levels
National; Regional
Time period
2022
Content

The total volume, incidence and density of skill gaps, vacancies, hard to fill vacancies and skill-shortage vacancies, as well as average and total days of training, number and proportion of employees trained, types of training arranged and paid for and establishments arranging or paying for training, for two digit Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC) in 2022. Indicators can be broken down by UK nation, region, site type, establishment type and establishment size.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
basic_induction_training_incPercentage of establishments providing basic induction training
e_learning_incPercentage of establishments arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
employeesNumber of employees
estab_sizeEstablishment size - Filter by establishment size
estab_typeEstablishment type - Filter by establishment type
extensive_induction_training_incPercentage of establishments providing extensive induction training
gdpr_training_incPercentage of establishments providing gdpr training
has_basic_induction_trainingNumber of establishments providing basic induction training
has_e_learningNumber of establishments arranging or funding online training or e-learning in the past 12 months
has_extensive_induction_trainingNumber of establishments providing extensive induction training
has_gdpr_trainingNumber of establishments providing gdpr training
has_health_safety_trainingNumber of establishments providing health and safety or first aid training
has_htfvNumber of establishments with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
has_job_specific_trainingNumber of establishments providing job specific training
has_management_trainingNumber of establishments providing management training
has_new_technology_trainingNumber of establishments providing new technology training
has_offthejob_trainingNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_trainingNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_onthejob_training_onlyNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
has_other_trainingNumber of establishments providing other training
has_personal_development_trainingNumber of establishments providing personal development training
has_skillgapNumber of establishments with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
has_ssvNumber of establishments with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
has_supervisory_trainingNumber of establishments providing supervisory training
has_trained_baseNumber of establishments in population who have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_training_in_generalNumber of establishments that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
has_vacNumber of establishments with at least one vacancy
health_safety_training_incPercentage of establishments providing health and safety or first aid training
htfv_denHard-to-fill vacancy density (HtF vacancies as a share of vacancies)
htfv_incPercentage of establishments with at least one hard-to-fill vacancy
htfv_sumNumber of hard-to-fill vacancies
job_specific_training_incPercentage of establishments providing job specific training
management_training_incPercentage of establishments providing management training
new_technology_training_incPercentage of establishments providing new technology training
offthejob_training_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any off-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
onthejob_training_only_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged only on-the-job training for staff over the past 12 months
other_training_incPercentage of establishments providing other training
personal_development_training_incPercentage of establishments providing personal development training
sample_sizeUnweighted base of establishments
sample_size_w_vacUnweighted base of establishments with vacancies
single_or_multi_siteSingle site or one of multiple sites within organisation - Filter by single or multi-sites
skillgap_denSkill gap density (the proportion of employees judged not fully proficient)
skillgap_incPercentage of establishments with at least one skill gap (i.e. 1+ employee not fully proficient)
skillgapsNumber of skill gaps (employees not fully proficient)
ssv_denSkill-shortage vacancy density (SSVs as a share of vacancies)
ssv_incPercentage of establishments with at least one skill-shortage vacancy
ssv_sumNumber of skill-shortage vacancies
supervisory_training_incPercentage of establishments providing supervisory training
train_days_employeeAverage number of days training per employee
train_days_traineeAverage number of days training per trainee
traineesNumber of employees trained in the past 12 months
training_daysTotal number of training days for employees
training_denProportion of employees that received any training in the past 12 months
training_in_general_incPercentage of establishments that have funded or arranged any training for staff over the past 12 months
twodigit_sicTwo digit standard industrial classification (SIC) - Filter by two digit standard industrial classification (SIC)
vac_denVacancy density (vacancies as a proportion of employment)
vac_incPercentage of establishments with at least one vacancy
vac_sumNumber of vacancies
weight_baseNumber of establishments 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 2022 results to previous waves.

Vacancy measures by occupational group

Filename
vac_indicators_soc_11_22.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2011 to 2022
Content

Total number of vacancies, hard to fill vacancies and skill-shortage vacancies, as well as skill-shortage vacancy density and hard to fill vacancy density, by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). Indicators can be broken down by UK nation and sector.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
htfv_denHard to fill vacancy density (as a percentage of vacancies for the SOC code)
htfv_sumNumber of hard to fill vacancies
sample_occupations_estab_has_vacancyNumber of occupations for which establishments had at least one vacancy in the specific SOC code
sectorSector - Filter by sector
soc_1_labelled1 digit SOC code and name - Filter by 1 digit SOC code (SOC2010)
soc_2_labelled2 digit SOC code and name - Filter by 2 digit SOC code (SOC2010)
soc_3_labelled3 digit SOC code and name - Filter by 3 digit SOC code (SOC2010)
soc_4_labelled4 digit SOC code and name - Filter by 4 digit SOC code (SOC2010)
ssv_denSkill-shortage vacancy density (as a percentage of vacancies for the SOC code)
ssv_sumNumber of skill-shortage vacancies
vac_sumNumber of vacancies