Population and Housing Census 2021. Relationship with the economic activity and studies

In Catalonia 33.9% of the population aged 15 and over had higher education on 1 January 2021, according to the Population and Housing Census 2021. By sex, the percentage was higher among women (35.5%) than among men (32.3%). On the other hand, 15.0% of the population had primary education or lower (13.0% of men and 17.0% of women), 27.7% had lower secondary education (30.1% of men and 25.5% of women) and 23.3% had upper secondary education (24.7% of men and 22.1% of women).

The counties with the highest percentage of population with higher education were El Barcelonès (40.4%) and El Pallars Sobirà (39.5%), while the counties with the lowest percentage were La Terra Alta (19.6%) and L'Alt Empordà (22.9%). In terms of municipalities, those with the highest percentage of tertiary education were Sant Cugat del Vallès (61.8%) and Sales de Llierca (61.6%), while the municipalities with the lowest percentage were La Jonquera (10.6%) and Bovera (14.8%).

37.9% of the population aged 18 to 24 enrolled in higher education (including university studies and higher vocational training education and equivalent). By sex, the percentage was higher among women (42.7%) than among men (33.6%). The counties with the highest proportion of young people who were doing higher education were El Pallars Sobirà (45.7%) and La Terra Alta (44.1%), while the counties with the lowest percentages were El Baix Penedès (29.2%) and L'Alt Empordà (31.0%).

62.4% of the population aged 16 to 64 was employed in the week prior to 1 January 2021. By sex, the percentage was higher in men (64.9%) than in women (59.9%). The counties with the highest percentage of employed population were El Pla de l'Estany (70.1%) and El Pallars Sobirà (68.8%), while the counties with the lowest percentage were La Selva (55.3%) and L'Alt Urgell (55.4%). On the other hand, the municipalities with the highest percentage were Les Oluges (83.7%) and Tavèrnoles (83.0%), while those with the lowest percentages were Lloret de Mar (40.9%) and Tossa de Mar (43.3%).

13.0% of the working population was unemployed in the week prior to 1 January 2021. By sex, the percentage was higher among women (14.9%) than among men (11.1%). The counties with the highest percentages were El Baix Penedès (19.6%) and La Selva (16.4%), while those with the lowest percentages were La Segarra (8.3%) and El Pla de l'Estany (8.6%). In terms of municipalities, those with the highest percentage of unemployed workers were Querol (28.5%) and El Montmell (27.9%), while the municipalities with the lowest percentage were Gurb (4.5%) and Torrelameu (4.5%).

Idescat extends the publication of the results of the Population and Housing Census 2021. The variables on studies (level of education attained and studies in progress) and the relation to economic activity are disseminated. Data is offered by Catalonia, provinces, areas of the Territorial Plan, counties, municipalities, census tract groups and census tracts. Data on households and dwellings will be published in the second semester of 2023.