Local authorities in England and Wales where more adults have no qualifications than uni degrees

[Tooting Carmen]

According to the 2021 Census. (Adults are defined as 16+).

Sandwell, West Midlands: 28.9% no qualifications, 22.7% uni degrees.
Blaenau Gwent, Wales: 27.9% no qualifications, 21.6% uni degrees.
Boston, East Midlands: 27.6% no qualifications, 19% uni degrees.
Merthyr Tydfil, Wales: 26.9% no qualifications, 25% uni degrees.
Great Yarmouth, East of England: 26.5% no qualifications, 18.2% uni degrees.
Walsall, West Midlands: 26.3% no qualifications, 23.7% uni degrees.
Tendring, East of England: 26.2% no qualifications, 19.9% uni degrees.
Knowsley, Northwest England: 26.2% no qualifications, 23.8% uni degrees.
Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands: 25.9% no qualifications, 21.8% uni degrees.
Fenland, East of England: 25.8% no qualifications, 19% uni degrees.
Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire and the Humber: 25.3% no qualifications, 21.7% uni degrees.
Barnsley, Yorkshire and the Humber: 25.2% no qualifications, 21.5% uni degrees.
East Lindsey, East Midlands: 25.2% no qualifications, 21.5% uni degrees.
Oldham, Northwest England: 24.7% no qualifications, 24.6% uni degrees.
Blackpool, Northwest England: 24.6% no qualifications, 22.5% uni degrees.
South Holland, East Midlands: 24.6% no qualifications, 20.1% uni degrees.
Doncaster, Yorkshire and the Humber: 24.6% no qualifications, 22.7% uni degrees.
Burnley, Northwest England: 24.4% no qualifications, 24.3% uni degrees.
Wakefield, Yorkshire and the Humber: 24.4% no qualifications, 24.3% uni degrees.
Mansfield, East Midlands: 24.4% no qualifications, 22.1% uni degrees.
North East Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the Humber: 24.2% no qualifications, 21.6% uni degrees.
Bolsover, East Midlands: 24.2% no qualifications, 21.7% uni degrees.
Castle Point, East of England: 23.9% no qualifications, 18.5% uni degrees.
Ashfield, East Midlands: 23.6% no qualifications, 21.6% uni degrees.
King's Lynn and West Norfolk, East of England: 23.4% no qualifications, 23.3% uni degrees.
Rotherham, Yorkshire and the Humber: 23.4% no qualifications, 23.1% uni degrees.

[Tooting Carmen]

Interestingly, none of the LAs on the list are in Northeast England, despite being overall the poorest region of England. Conversely, quite a few are in the East of England, particularly along the coast (I have visited towns like Great Yarmouth - many of them quite deprived and run-down).

What's more, there is little correlation between this measurement and levels of ethnic diversity: from the list, only Sandwell, Walsall, Oldham and Burnley have high proportions of non-whites, while the others have proportions at or below average. (On the other hand, some of them do have lots of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, who work mainly in farms and factories: Boston, Merthyr Tydfil, Great Yarmouth, Kingston-upon-Hull, Doncaster, Mansfield).