23rd Sep 2026

Apprenticeship statistics UK 2026

Apprenticeships Blogs

Adult learners taking part in a group discussion during a classroom training session.

Apprenticeships and apprentice recruitment play a central role in the UK’s skills and workforce strategy.

They allow learners to earn while they train, while employers benefit from developing talent aligned to real industry needs.

The latest apprentice statistics UK reveal how apprenticeship participation, levels, funding and outcomes are changing across the country.

How many apprenticeships start each year?

One of the most widely referenced statistics on apprenticeships is the annual number of starts.

In 2024/25 there were 353,500 apprenticeship starts in England.
This was 4.1% higher than the previous year, when around 339,580 apprenticeships began.
Apprenticeship participation reached 761,500 learners in total.
Over the past six academic years, more than 2 million people have enrolled on an apprenticeship (2,023,530 enrolments in total).
The latest in-year data shows 142,780 starts between August and October 2025, a 7.7% increase year-on-year.
Since 2018/19, total participation has remained relatively stable, rising slightly from 742,400 to 761,500 learners.

While starts declined following funding reforms in 2017, the latest apprenticeship statistics suggest the system is gradually stabilising.

Apprenticeship completion statistics

Completion rates are another important metric in apprenticeships statistics.

198,330 apprentices achieved their qualification in 2024/25, the highest figure in seven years.
Achievements increased 11.3% compared with 2023/24.
The number of completions has now grown for three consecutive years.
Intermediate apprenticeships (Level 2, equivalent to GCSEs) saw a 5.5% decline in achievements during the same period.
Higher-level programmes (Level 4 and above) have driven much of the improvement in completion figures.

These figures highlight a shift toward longer, more advanced programmes. For employers, this is significant. Higher completion rates at advanced levels suggest that apprentices are progressing further into their careers before leaving their programmes, which means greater return on investment for the businesses who have supported their development. Where employers have committed to Level 3 and above programmes, the data suggests they are increasingly seeing those apprentices through to qualification.

Apprenticeship statistics by level

The UK apprenticeship system covers several qualification levels, from GCSE-equivalent training to postgraduate programmes.

Key statistics on apprenticeships by level include:

39.8% of apprenticeship starts are now at Level 4 or above.
Level 2 apprenticeships make up 18.6% of starts, continuing a long-term decline.
Higher-level apprenticeship starts increased 15.1% year-on-year.
Level 6 and 7 starts reached 60,350 in 2024/25, representing 17.1% of all starts.
Level 7 programmes alone saw more than 40% growth in the most recent year.

These degree apprenticeships statistics highlight a growing preference for advanced qualifications linked to professional careers.

It is important to note that from April 2026, Level 7 apprenticeships have been defunded for learners aged 22 and over. Employers can no longer access government funding for master's-level programmes for the majority of their workforce. The growth figures above reflect historic participation under the previous rules.

The picture going forward will look different, with degree-level growth concentrated at Level 6 for younger learners. Employers considering higher apprenticeships should speak to a training provider about what remains available and fundable under the current rules.

Apprenticeship statistics by age group

The age profile of apprentices has shifted over the past decade.

40,100 apprenticeship starts were by under-19s in the early part of the 2025/26 academic year.
40,020 starts were by learners aged 19 to 24.
The largest group was learners aged 25 and over, with 62,660 starts.
Under-19 starts fell 4.1% year-on-year.
Starts among people aged 25 and over rose by 17.2%.

These statistics show that apprenticeships are increasingly used for adult upskilling and career development.

Looking at the full 2024/25 academic year, the age split across all starts was as follows:

21% under 19.
28% aged 19 to 24.
51% aged 25 and over.

This split has shifted noticeably since 2019/20, when the breakdown was 24% under-19, 30% aged 19 to 24, and 47% aged 25 and over.

Apprenticeship statistics by gender

The gender balance of apprenticeship starts has shifted in recent years, with female participation now exceeding male participation overall.

In 2019/20, the split was 51% male (165,160 starts) and 49% female (157,370 starts).
By 2024/25, this had reversed, with females accounting for 52.5% of starts (185,500) and males 47.5% (168,000).
Female apprenticeship starts have increased by 18% over the last five years, an extra 28,130 starts. Male starts have increased by just 2%, or 2,840 starts, over the same period.

The subjects driving this shift differ markedly by gender. For female apprentices, the most common subjects are Business Administration (24% of all female starts), Education & Early Years (18%), and Care Services (14%). For male apprentices, the leading subjects are Construction (18%), Engineering & Manufacturing (17%), and Business Administration (16%).

Growth patterns also differ. Among female apprentices, the largest increases in actual numbers over five years came from Education & Early Years (up 24,170), Digital (up 10,140), and Business Administration. In percentage terms, Digital saw the fastest female growth at 431%, followed by Education & Early Years at 251% and Construction at 104%.

Among male apprentices, the largest increases in actual numbers came from Engineering & Manufacturing (up 11,060), Construction (up 10,840), and Digital (up 10,560). In percentage terms, Digital again led with 126% growth for men, followed by Education & Early Years (86%) and Care Services (78%).

Apprenticeship statistics by deprivation

Apprenticeship uptake is also tracked by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), which splits learners into five categories, with category 1 representing the most deprived areas and category 5 the least deprived.

The highest uptake currently comes from category 4 (72,430 starts), closely followed by category 3 (72,120). Category 2 (70,190), category 1 (68,720), and category 5 (66,240) complete the ranking.
In 2019/20, learners from the most deprived areas (category 1) ranked first for apprenticeship starts. By 2024/25, this group had dropped to fourth out of five.
Among the most deprived apprentices, the top three subjects are Health, Public Service & Care (24,750 starts), Business Administration (16,710), and Engineering & Manufacturing (7,810). Despite ranking third for volume, Engineering & Manufacturing has seen a 21% decline in starts among the most deprived group since 2019/20.
The largest growth among the most deprived apprentices has come from Digital (70% increase) and Education & Training (36% increase). Science and Mathematics saw a 450% increase, though this reflects growth from a very small base of 20 to 110 starts.
Among the most affluent apprentices (category 5), the top three subjects are Business Administration & Law (22,900 starts), Health, Public Service & Care (13,200), and Engineering & Manufacturing (8,370), which has declined 14% since 2019/20.
Growth among the most affluent group has come from Digital (42%), Education & Training (36%), and Health, Public Service & Care (26%).

Apprenticeship levy statistics

Introduced in 2017, the apprenticeship levy requires large employers to contribute toward training funds.

The latest apprenticeship levy statistics show how significant the scheme has become.

243,340 apprenticeship starts were supported by levy funding.
This represents 68.8% of all apprenticeship starts.
The levy applies to employers with a pay bill over £3 million per year.
Some estimates suggest over £3.3 billion of levy funds have expired unused since 2019.
Large employers account for the majority of higher-level apprenticeship funding.

These apprenticeship levy statistics highlight both the scale of the funding system and the ongoing debate about how effectively it is used. With an estimated £3.3 billion in levy funds having expired unused since 2019, the opportunity for large employers to transfer funds to smaller businesses is significant.

For SMEs, levy transfers represent a route into fully funded apprenticeship training that many are still unaware of. Independent training providers like Total People play a central role in connecting levy-paying employers with smaller businesses, facilitating transfers, and making sure funds reach the organisations that need them most rather than returning to the Treasury.

Apprenticeship statistics by sector

Certain sectors dominate the apprenticeship landscape.

According to recent statistics on apprenticeships by sector:

Over three-quarters of apprenticeship starts are concentrated in four subject areas.
Major sectors include Business, Administration and Law.
Health, Public Services and Care is another leading apprenticeship sector.
Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies remain a major contributor.
Digital technology apprenticeships continue to expand rapidly.

These sectors reflect the UK economy's ongoing demand for practical, technical skills.

Looking at the data in more granular detail: Business and Administration accounted for 20% of all apprenticeship starts in 2024/25, with Education & Early Years and Care Services ranking second and third, each accounting for 10% of all starts.

Education & Early Years and Digital were the fastest-growing subject areas over the last five years, growing by 230% (an extra 25,300 starts) and 193% (an extra 20,690 starts) respectively.

Only two subject areas have seen a decrease in starters over the same period: Protective Services (down 9%, 770 fewer starts) and Sales, Marketing & Procurement (down 5%, 920 fewer starts). Despite being the fastest-growing subject overall, Education & Early Years saw a 2% decrease specifically among under-19 starters.

Digital has been a standout performer among older apprentices specifically, seeing a 416% increase, or 18,990 additional starts, among apprentices aged 25 and over the last five years.

Apprenticeship statistics by region

Apprenticeship starts vary considerably depending on where in the country you look, and the picture changes again once population size is taken into account.

The region with the highest number of starts was the South East (55,260), while the lowest was the North East (18,580).
Over the last five years, the smallest percentage increase came from Yorkshire and The Humber, up just 2%. The largest increase came from London, up 19%.
Looking at starts per 100,000 population instead of total volume, the South West had the highest rate per capita (1,115 starts per 100,000 residents), while London had the lowest (643 starts per 100,000), despite recording the largest percentage growth in total starts.
As a percentage change in starts per capita, Yorkshire and The Humber saw a 2% decline, and the North East saw a 1% decline.

Apprenticeship application statistics

Demand for apprenticeship opportunities is growing rapidly.

Some emerging apprenticeship application statistics suggest:

Many degree apprenticeship roles receive hundreds of applications per position.
Competitive programmes may attract 150 or more applicants for a single role.
Some employers report acceptance rates below 10%.

Although application data is less standardised, these apprenticeship application statistics indicate rising competition for the most prestigious programmes.

What the latest apprenticeship statistics mean

The latest apprenticeship statistics highlight several clear trends:

Apprenticeship starts are stabilising after earlier declines.
Higher-level and degree apprenticeships are growing rapidly.
Adult participation in apprenticeships is increasing.
Female participation has overtaken male participation, driven largely by growth in Education & Early Years and Digital.
Apprenticeship uptake among the most deprived learners has declined in relative terms over the past five years, even as overall numbers have grown.
The apprenticeship levy now funds most programmes.
Regional patterns vary significantly depending on whether total volume or per-capita uptake is considered.
Apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a viable alternative to university.

As skills shortages grow in sectors such as engineering, healthcare and digital technology, apprenticeships are likely to remain central to the UK’s workforce development strategy.

Sources

Apprenticeship options

Explore apprenticeship opportunities across a wide range of sectors.

View pathways