Job market information
Finding out about further education
The further education industry is part of the lifelong learning sector, represented by Lifelong Learning UK Sector Skills Council, which also includes: community learning and development; higher education; libraries, archives and information services; and work‐based learning. The sector as a whole currently employs over 1.2 million people in a range of educational institutions, as well as public and private sector organisations.
The further education industry includes staff involved in the delivery, support and management of learning who work in general further education (FE) colleges, tertiary colleges, sixth form colleges, independent specialist colleges, Scotland’s further education colleges and post‐16 learning in Northern Ireland and Wales.
Key facts:
- There are 305,243 people working in further education, of which:
- 263,257 staff are in England
- 6,357 staff are in Northern Ireland
- 21, 604 are in Scotland
- 14, 025 are in Wales
- A higher proportion of female staff is employed part‐time than male staff.
- A further education lecturer usually works 37 hours a week, with around 25 hours spent teaching.
Jobs in the industry include: head of department, senior lecturer, team leader, curriculum leader, lecturer, teacher, trainer, learning support staff, assessor, internal verifier.
Entry and progression
Entry requirements and progression in the industry are varied.
To become a further education lecturer/teacher/trainer applicants need at least a level 3 qualification (for example A level or NVQ level 3) in the subject area they want to teach or extensive vocational experience. For some academic subjects a degree is required. Applicants also need basic skills in English and Maths of NVQ level 2 or above and to complete a teaching qualification. This qualification has to be is endorsed by Standards Verification UK (SVUK), but can be undertaken once in employment. Under government legislation in England, lecturers and teachers in further education need to be registered with the Institute for Learning (IfL).
To become an NVQ assessor, applicants need occupational competence in the sector they will be assessing. Qualifications in the area are usually also required, especially NVQs at level 3 or above (as well as an assessment qualification).
To become an Internal Verifier applicants need occupational competence in the sector they will be assessing. Qualifications in the area are usually also required, especially NVQs at level 3 or above (as well as an assessment qualification) and a Level 4 award in Conducting Internal Quality Assurance of the Assessment Process.
There are a range of industry endorsed courses (at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate), apprenticeships, training schemes and vocational qualifications.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
305,243 |
|---|
| [N.B. The following data are for the further education industry in England.] |
| Gender: |
63% of all further education staff (including administrative and support roles) are female. |
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| 59% of teaching staff are female. |
| 83% learning support workers are women. |
| Age: |
52% of the workforce is 45 years or over |
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Employment trends and future prospects
It is estimated that the size of the lifelong learning workforce as a whole will increase from 2008 to 2015. Significant recruitment will be required during this period.
As the lifelong learning sector relies on voluntary workers and a high proportion of publicly funded positions, the recession is unlikely to impact on the estimated demand for the workforce as severely as the private sector. However, it is expected that there will be an overall decrease on available funding, which will affect employment figures.
Future demand in further education is expected for support staff and technical support staff.
Skill requirements and shortages
The main skills shortages in the industry are:
- Specific shortage subjects: Maths; Skills for Life (and its equivalents: Essential Skills; Adult Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL); engineering; information and communication technology (ICT); science; business administration; management; health and social care
- Management and leadership
- Other constituency specific skills, including: gaining current industry experience; updating vocational courses; developing a wider range of teaching and learning support skills
Occupational trends
Skills shortages are highest amongst associate professionals (including learning support staff) in England (13.9%).
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are an estimated 22,087 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 9.9% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 8.2% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 60.8% of teaching staff work part‐time
- Pay is the second lowest of all English regions.
East of England – There are an estimated 23,091 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 10.9% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 7.8% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 53.4% of teaching staff work part‐time
London – There are an estimated 34,406 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 33.2% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 14.8% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 59.7% of teaching staff work part‐time
North East – There are an estimated 15,488 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 3.3% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 5.1% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 49.6% of teaching staff work part‐time
North West – There are an estimated 43,001 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 6.4% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 16.1% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 56.2% of teaching staff work part‐time
South East – There are an estimated 37,189 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 8.8% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 14.5% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 57.8% of teaching staff work part‐time
South West – There are an estimated 27,539 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 9.9% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 10% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 68.2% of teaching staff work part‐time
West Midlands – There are an estimated 30,894 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 12.9% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 12.4% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 59.4% of teaching staff work part‐time
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 29,562 people in the further education workforce in the region, of which:
- 6.7% of the teaching staff are of a Black or Minority Ethnic origin
- 11% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 58.9 % of teaching staff work part‐time
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 6,357 people in the further education workforce: 2,142 staff work full‐time, 51% of them were male; and 3,465 staff work part‐time, 37% of them were female.
Scotland – There are an estimated 21,604 people in the further education workforce, of which:
- 61% of the workforce are teaching staff
- 57% of full‐time equivalents (FTEs) are female
- 51% of teaching staff FTEs and 63% of non‐teaching FTEs are female
- the majority of staff are aged 30‐49 years
- 64% of teaching staff and 37% non‐teaching staff work part‐time
- 61% of staff are employed on a permanent basis
Wales – There are an estimated 14,025 people in the further education workforce, of which:
- 60% of the workforce is teaching and learning staff
- 13% is teaching and learning support staff
- 28% is other support staff
- 61% of the workforce is female
- 70% of support staff are female
- 31% of female staff are aged 40‐49 years
- 15% of male staff are aged 50‐54 years
- amongst non‐teaching staff, numbers are high in the under 25 years age group
- 70% of the full‐time equivalent workforce is full‐time
- 74% of the full‐time equivalent workforce were employed on permanent contracts
Salary levels
There is no national pay scale for this sector so pay scales are variable. The following only provides an indication of the average annual salary levels:
- Further education lecturer/teacher/trainer in leadership and management can earn between £33,000 ‐ £81,000
- Further education lecturer/teacher/trainers can earn between £22,000 ‐ £33,000
- Further education learning support staff can earn around £10,000
- NVQ Assessor/internal verifier can earn between £16,000 ‐ £25,000, there are some exceptions where staff can earn up to £40,000
Salaries are often paid hourly within a further education setting.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using LLUK AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
