Social Mobility Commission launches State of the Nation 2024 Report

Building on last year’s focus on geography, State of the Nation 2024 provides data and insights which map social mobility outcomes across 203 upper-tier local authority areas in the country, compared to the 41 larger regions we looked at in 2023. This, more granular, analysis gives us much more information about where in the UK upward mobility is highest and lowest – and where the greatest opportunities currently are. We also focus on education and the labour market, and highlight some of the experiences of people from different backgrounds across the country, whose lives reflect the human stories behind our data and analysis. 

Our interactive online Data Explorer tool visualises the findings of  the report and maps social mobility outcomes across 203 local authority areas. The report and the tool can be used to better understand where the specific challenges and outcomes are, across different local areas in the UK.

Key Highlights

• Young people who grew up in London and the Home Counties continue to enjoy better social mobility than their counterparts in other regions of the country. These areas provide the best opportunities for high qualifications and professional well-paid jobs.
• There are marked geographical differences in educational attainment for pupils eligible for Free Schools Meals. Free Schools Meals eligible pupils in rural areas such as Cornwall and Cumbria, or in other areas of the North West, such as Lancashire and Cheshire are also less likely to achieve passes (grade 5 or higher) in GCSE English and Maths.
• The university enrolment gap between young people from higher and socio-economic backgrounds has narrowed between 2014 to 2022.
• Despite some positive trends in the drivers, or background conditions that enable social mobility,  the percentage of children living in relative poverty in the UK has risen since 2012, and is about 30%.

The State of the Nation underlines the Social Mobility Commission’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking, and its dedication to improving social mobility for all UK citizens. It is a critical resource for shaping future government initiatives and fostering a more equitable society.

Download a PDF of the report or read an HTML version.