Scotland: Employment and Education

Scotland's population size is 5,295,403

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  1. Learning disabilities
  2. Autism

People with learning disabilities and people with autism want to make a positive contribution to society. Inclusion, equality and the opportunity for people to improve themselves through continuous learning and employment opportunities are just as important and just as relevant to people with learning disabilities and people with autism, as they are to the rest of the population. Involvement in these opportunities can also have a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

The importance of equality of opportunity in both education and employment for all people is underlined in UK and Scottish policy and legislation.

Employment: people aged 16 and over

  All People People learning disabilities
Total % Total %
Full time paid work 1,818,088 41.5% 1,153 5.5%
Part time paid work 709,732 16.2% 1,307 6.2%
Unemployed 222,316 5.1% 657 3.1%
Retired 975,121 22.3% 1,934 9.2%
Student 219,215 5.0% 1,975 9.4%
Looking after home/family 142,682 3.3% 207 1.0%
Long-term sick or disabled 209,935 4.8% 12,098 57.3%
Other 81,983 1.9% 1,784 8.5%
Total 4,379,072 100.0% 21,115 100.0%

Employment

People aged 16 or over with learning disabilities

12,098

long term sick or disabled


2,460

in paid employment


1,975

students


657

unemployed


1,934

retired


207

looking after home or family


1,784

other


Employment status in young people

Employment status of people with learning disabilities aged 16-24

406

Employee


8

Self-employed


273

Unemployed


1,544

Long-term sick or disabled


27

Looking after home/family


1,622

Student


242

Other


Hours worked per week

People aged 16-74 with learning disabilities

17,784

0 hours


581

15 hours or less


719

16 to 30 hours


975

31 to 48 hours


168

49 hours or more


Occupation type

People aged 16-74 with learning disabilities

81

managerial


274

professional and technical


176

administrative and secretarial


294

skilled trade


664

service occupations


954

elementary occupations


Industry type

People aged 16-74 with learning disabilities

109

agriculture, energy & water


202

manufacturing


135

construction


857

distribution, hotels & restaurants


154

transport & communications


275

financial & real estate


583

public, education & health


128

other


Employment history

People aged 16 or over with learning disabilities

14,775

never employed


3,880

formerly employed


2,460

employed


Employment history

People aged 16 or over with learning disabilities

14,775

never employed


3,880

formerly employed


2,460

employed


Education: people aged 4 and over

Student accommodation

Students aged 4 or over with learning disabilities

171

living in a communal establishment


40

living in all student household


5,615

living with parents


229

other household type


210

part-time students


130

living alone


Summary information

11.7% of adults with learning disabilities have paid employment, compared with 57.7% of all adults


  • 5.5% of adults with learning disabilities work full time, compared with 41.5% of all adultsĀ 


  • 6.2% of adults with learning disabilities work part-time, compared with 16.2% of all adults


  • 3.1% of adults with learning disabilities are unemployed, compared with 5.2% of all adults


  • 57.3% of adults with learning disabilities are long-term sick or disabled, compared with 4.8% of all adults



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