Higher education workforce framework

The higher education (HE) workforce framework looks at the major considerations and challenges that face the workforce of the English HE sector. It examines key issues and draws on evidence to inform policy making and strategic planning at higher education institutions (HEIs).

The framework is published as two reports supported by a range of research reports.

The higher education workforce framework 2010: Overview report
This highlights the key achievements of HE and the most pressing challenges for the workforce.

The higher education workforce framework 2010: Main report
The main report offers a more detailed analysis of workforce trends and background information to inform institutions' own strategic planning.

Research reports

As part of the underpinning research for the HE workforce framework reports, we commissioned and published five independent reports:

Sector impact assessment

In developing our HE workforce framework reports, we have undertaken a formal assessment of the impact it will have on the HE sector in terms of regulatory burden, equality and diversity, and sustainable development.

Sector impact assessment: HE workforce framework

Download the Sector impact assessment: HE workforce framework as PDF (49 KB) | Download the Sector impact assessment: HE workforce framework as MS Word (68 KB)

Trends and profiles of staff

To assist HEIs in their own strategic workforce planning, we have produced a series of reports that provide an overview of trends and profiles of staff employed in English HEIs. The latest report includes information on staff in academic years 1995-96 to 2010-11.

HE workforce framework 2006

We produced our first HE workforce framework in 2006. The 2010 reports develop the themes from this first report and add further, and more up to date, commentary.