Employment Rate
DfE Destinations
Percentage of students entering employment after leaving school
Understanding Employment Rate
The Employment Rate shows the percentage of students who enter employment after leaving school. This destination data reflects how well schools prepare young people for the workforce.
What This Includes
Employment destinations cover: - Full-time employment: Standard working arrangements - Part-time employment: Jobs alongside other activities - Self-employment: Starting a business or freelancing
Note that apprenticeships are typically counted separately as they combine employment with training.
Context Matters
A higher employment rate isn’t necessarily better or worse than high education continuation — it depends on the school’s context and student aspirations:
- Technical schools may appropriately have higher employment rates
- Grammar schools typically have higher university progression
- Local economic conditions affect available opportunities
Interpreting This Data
Consider employment rates alongside: - NEET rates (lower is always better) - Education continuation rates - Apprenticeship rates - The school’s stated mission and intake
The goal is that all students have positive destinations — whether education or employment.
Technical Details
- Column Name
- employment_rate
- Data Source
- DfE Destinations
Coverage by School Phase
How many schools have data available for this field.
Score Weight by School Phase
How much this field contributes to the overall performance score.
Distribution by School Phase
Statistical distribution of values across schools.
Related Fields
Fields that correlate with Employment Rate. Click to explore.