Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system in Tier 4 of the Agricultural Reform Programme: Equality impact assessment – Record
Equality impact assessment–Record to accompany consultation on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Tier 4 of the Agricultural Reform Programme. Tier 4 focuses on people and professional development. This includes skills, knowledge transfer, training, advisory services, and business support.
Stage 2: Data and evidence gathering, involvement and consultation
Include here the results of your evidence gathering (including framing exercise), including qualitative and quantitative data and the source of that information, whether national statistics, surveys or consultations with relevant equality groups.
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Characteristic[1] |
Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence |
Source |
Data gaps identified and action taken to address the data gaps |
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Age |
In 2019, just under one in five people (19%) in Scotland were aged 65 and over. On 30 June 2019, Scotland's population was estimated to be 5,463,300 - a record high and an increase of 25,200 people (0.5%) over the last year. In 2019, just under one in five people (19%) in Scotland were aged 65 and over, compared with 17% in mid-2009. Rural areas tend to have an older population when compared to the rest of Scotland. Specifically, rural areas have a lower proportion of the population in the age range 16 to 44 but a higher proportion of people aged 45 and over. This is particularly true for the age range of 65 and over in remote rural areas. Specifically in agricultural holdings included in the June Returns, the vast majority of working occupiers are aged 55 years and over. In 2025, 16% of the total working occupiers were 44 years and under. On the 14,890 crofters in 2023-24 the following ages were recorded: <21, 20 crofters; age 21-40, 1,177 crofters; age 41-60, 4,926 crofters; age 61-80, 5,520 crofters; age >80, 1,404 crofters; and date of birth unknown there were 1,843 crofters. There are 21,514 crofts on the crofting register. |
Scottish Budget 2024 to 2025: equality and fairer Scotland statement |
There is data for rural areas, agricultural holdings and crofts but not for all groups that provide advice for services to farmers, crofters and land managers. Consultation with stakeholders on the CPD system will help to see if there is further information to establish age profiles where readily available data has not been identified. |
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Disability |
In 2019 there was a roughly equal proportion (30%) of adults with a long term illness or disability living in rural areas compared to urban areas. This proportion is despite the fact there is a higher proportion of older people living in rural areas and the prevalence of disability and long term limiting illness increases with age. Compared to non-disabled people across Scotland in 2022, disabled people had:
In January to December 2022 disabled people were more likely to:
In April 2020-March 2021 the employment rate for those classed as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 was estimated at 47.4% which is significantly lower than the employment rate for non-disabled people (80.2%). In April 2020-March 2021, the disability employment gap was estimated at 32.8%. This represents a statistically significant gap. The disability employment gap is the difference between the employment rates of disabled people and non-disabled people aged 16 to 64 years. It is calculated as the non-disabled employment rate minus disabled employment rate. The gap between the employment rate for disabled and non-disabled people has decreased by 0.5% over the year and by 5.5% since April 2015-March 2016. The Agricultural Household Survey (2025) noted that “Around one in five active farmers overall had a health condition or disability that limits their day-to-day life (19%), which was lower than the data derived from the 2022 Scottish Census for those in agricultural roles (27%) and also for the Scottish 18+ population overall (28%).” Of these disabilities and health conditions, they were “most likely to say they had a condition that affects their mobility (45%) or stamina, breathing or fatigue (26%).” It should be noted that “where respondents mentioned “other conditions” this was often chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma or diabetes. Active farmers were more likely to mention mental health conditions (18%) than non-active farmers (10%).” |
Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026: Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement Scottish Household Survey 2018 (Last updated: September 2019) Labour Market Statistics for Scotland by Disability: January to December 2022 |
While there are national statistics available, as well as rural-urban ones, there is a lack of data specifically on disabled people within agriculture and in the sectors that are providing services and advice to it. Consultation with stakeholders on the CPD system will help to see if there is relevant data available, even for particular groups in the sector. |
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Sex |
Research commissioned by the Scottish Government in 2017 identified a range of issues that impact women in agriculture and limit their participation in the industry. Key barriers to participation identified were: lack of time; childcare responsibilities; lack of opportunities; and perceived lack of skills. Other issues found to impact women negatively in agriculture were: inheritance norms; under-representation in leadership; and lack of training. In June 2025 male and female working occupiers were of generally similar ages. However, this estimate may not include some family members who also provide some labour. At that time, the majority of the workforce are owner-occupiers, made up of people who own or rent the farm and work on it. Of all working occupiers, 65% were male and 35% were female (some 0.4% of working occupiers selected “prefer not to say”). Not all responses to the agricultural census provide occupier sex (and age) information, therefore, the information here comes from a subset of the census returns depending on whether we are looking solely at sex or age and sex. The figures presented here relate only to those who provided an answer and not the total number of occupiers in Scotland. |
Main Findings - Women in farming and the agriculture sector: research report |
The evidence shows a greater number of males to females as working occupiers working in agriculture. It is likely that other groups of employees will also have a larger number of males to females. There is however, a lack of information for other groups that provide advice for services to farmers, crofters and land managers. Where there are gaps, the consultation on CPD will seek to identify whether there is other data available. |
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Pregnancy and maternity |
Pregnancy, births and maternity: key points for Scotland note that birth and fertility rates continue to fall:
Women are having children later:
The Scottish Government equality outcomes: pregnancy and maternity evidence review (2013) noted a number of areas of discrimination including others in employment: There are many examples of women losing pay and status, and even their jobs, due to pregnancy. The number of maternity-related employment tribunals has been rising, even as other types of case decline. Over a tenth of sex discrimination claims in GB employment tribunals in 2009-10 concerned pregnancy. Research in women in agriculture in 2017 showed that women’s daily lives are very varied, with activities depending on the stage in their life cycle, type of farm, off-farm work, and whether they work full-time. In general, farm women are very busy, juggling childcare, farm work, housework, and off-farm work. Women often organise off-farm work around the needs of the farm (e.g. taking holidays from off-farm work during the lambing season). Women are involved in the full range of farming activities, most commonly family care/household management (85%), running errands (79%), administration and book keeping (67%), and livestock care in various forms (65%). This is largely consistent with the skills they identified contributing to their farms. Over half of main survey respondents in 2017 work off-farm; some 40% of main survey respondents volunteer (in both cases, about 40% of these activities are within the agricultural sector). (from Women in Farming and the Agriculture Sector) Asked about barriers to women’s greater participation as land managers, 54% of respondents identified ‘”prioritise children” as a barrier. |
Pregnancy, births and maternity: key points for Scotland - ScotPHO (2023) Scottish Government Equality Outcomes: Pregnancy and Maternity Evidence Review (2013) Women in farming and the agriculture sector: research report (2017) |
Evidence is from national statistics as well as specifically from the agricultural sector, though not for other groups that provide advice for services to farmers, crofters and land managers. In the consultation on CPD it will be important to recognise the impacts of pregnancy and maternity on the development of the CPD system and the development of CPD activities and to take these into account in the CPD system. |
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Gender reassignment |
In 2022 Scotland’s Census found that 19,990 people were trans, or had a trans history. This is 0.44% of people aged 16 and over. In the Census this was a voluntary question for people aged 16 and over. In 2022 5.92% of people did not answer the trans status question. The percentage of people who were trans or had a trans history was calculated using the overall population (aged 16 and over), not just those who answered the question. Almost half (46.1%) of people who were trans or had a trans history were aged 16 to 24. Around a quarter (26.0%) were aged 25 to 34. The four “City” council areas had the highest percentage of trans people relative to their population (aged 16 and over). Dundee City had the highest percentage (0.91%), followed by City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City (both 0.77%), and Aberdeen City (0.58%). A report from Stonewall noted that at work:
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Scotland’s Census 2022 - Sexual orientation and trans status or history (2024) |
The Census Scotland statistics in 2022 provide an overview relating to sexual orientation and trans status or history. It includes reference to rates of people as well as their geographical location. It does not, however, refer to occupational sectors, such as agriculture and others that relate to the provision of advice and services to it. It is not known how many trans people are employed in this sector. It is likely to be very small. It may be that the issues facing this group of people are more significant, given the culture of the industry. The consultation on CPD will seek to identify whether there is other data available. |
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Sexual orientation |
The 2022 Census found that there were 183,860 LGB+ people in Scotland, 4.0% of people aged 16 and over.
The questions on sexual orientation and trans status or history were new for the 2022 census and were voluntary for those aged 16 and over. For sexual orientation, 8.15% of the population aged 16 and over did not provide a response and for trans status or history this figure was 5.92%. This was a voluntary question for people aged 16 and over. In 2022 8.2% of people did not answer the sexual orientation question. The percentages used above were calculated using the overall population (aged 16 and over), not just those who answered the sexual orientation question. The Agricultural Household Survey (2025) stated that “Almost all active farmers who responded described their sexual orientation as heterosexual or straight (99%), 0.6% said they were gay or lesbian, 0.5% said they were bisexual, and 0.1% described their sexual orientation in some other way. This was similar to the Scottish population.” On Trans status, the Agricultural Household Survey (2025) stated that “Almost all active farmers said they were not trans (99.6%), this is consistent with the Census data for Scotland overall (99.5%) and for those in agricultural occupations (99.8%).” |
Scotland’s Census 2022 - Sexual orientation and trans status or history |
The Census Scotland statistics in 2022 provide an overview relating to sexual orientation and trans status or history. It includes reference to rates of people as well as their geographical location. It does not, however, refer to occupational sector, such as agriculture, and it is not known how many of them are employed in this sector, though it is likely to be very small. It may be that the issues facing this group of people are more significant, given the culture of the industry. The consultation on CPD will seek to identify whether there is other data available. |
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Race |
In 2022 12.9% of people in Scotland had a minority ethnic background. This is an increase from 8.2% in 2011. The employment rate for the minority ethnic population aged 16 to 64 was estimated at 65.1% in April 2020-March 2021. This was significantly lower than the rate for the white population (73.2%) giving an estimated gap in employment rates between the minority ethnic and white populations of 8.2%. This represented a statistically significant gap. The minority ethnic employment gap is the difference between the employment rates of minority ethnic people and white people aged 16 to 64 years. It is calculated as the white employment rate minus minority ethnic employment rate. The white population aged 16 to 64 consistently had a higher employment rate than the minority ethnic population. In April 2020-March 2021, the minority ethnic employment gap was estimated to be largest for those aged 25 to 34 (16.7%); followed by ages 35 to 49 (14.4%), ages 16 to 24 (7.2%) and ages 50 to 64 (8.3%), where the minority ethnic employment rate is higher than the white employment rate). The minority ethnic employment gaps for 25 to 34 year olds and 35 to 49 year olds represent statistically significant differences between the employment rates for the minority ethnic and white populations. Just under half (40.0%) of men worked in sectors that show high levels of gender segregation towards men. They include “Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing” (2.2 per cent). Seasonal workers in Scottish agriculture have also been shown to face difficulties with xenophobia and racism in previous years. (The number of casual and seasonal workers, at 8,100 workers, is in line with the five year average. Due to the timing of the June Agricultural Census, it may not capture all seasonal working in Scottish agriculture, particularly those involved in the harvest of soft fruits. Non-EU workers accounted for 70% of the migrant labour person working days in 2025 whereas EU workers accounted for 30% of the migrant labour person working days total.) The Agricultural Household Survey (2025) states that “Almost all active farmers described their ethnicity as “White” (99%), this is consistent with the Census data reported for all people in agricultural occupations (99%) – however, it is higher than the data reported for Scotland overall (94%).” |
Poverty and income inequality: statistics (2020-23) Scotland’s Census 2022 - Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion https://www.gov.scot/publications/results-from-the-scottish-agricultural-census-june-2025/ |
There is limited data about ethnicity / race in agriculture and in sectors that provide advice and services to it. Workers from Eastern Europe tend to be seasonal workers who come to work for specific periods on specific types of activities. We do not know how many then go on to stay or take up permanent careers in agriculture in Scotland. The CPD consultation will need to consider whether there are any issues relating to race that impact on the CPD system and CPD activities. |
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Religion or belief |
For the first time in Scotland’s Census, the 2022 Census showed that the majority of people said they had no religion. In 2022 51.1% of people had no religion, up from 36.7% in 2011. This was a voluntary question, first used in 2001. In 2022 6.2% of people did not answer the religion question. The increase in people with no religion in Scotland coincided with a decrease in people who said they belong to the Church of Scotland. In 2022 20.4% responded “Church of Scotland”, down from 32.4% in 2011 and from 42.4% in 2001. This is a fall of 610,100 people since 2011, and over 1 million since 2001. However “Church of Scotland” remained the largest group among those who said they had a religion. The next largest religious groups were “Roman Catholic” (13.3%), “Other Christian” (5.1%) and “Muslim” (2.2%). These groups saw smaller changes since the last census than “Church of Scotland”. The number of people who described themselves as Roman Catholic decreased by 117,700 since 2011, whilst the number in the Other Christian category decreased by 12,000. The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased by 43,100 over the same period. “No religion” was the most common response in every council area in Scotland except in Na h-Eileanan Siar and Inverclyde, where “Church of Scotland” (35.3%) and “Roman Catholic” (33.4%) were the most common responses respectively. In Na h-Eileanan Siar the percentage of people with no religion increased from 11.4% in 2001 to 29.9% in 2022. The Agricultural Household Survey (2025) states that “a third of active farmers (33%) said they did not belong to any religion or faith. Half (50%) said they were Church of Scotland, 12% were other Christian and 3% were Roman Catholic. Comparison to the Census reveals that active farmers were less likely to have said they did not have a religion or belief (33%) than people identified through the 2022 Census who were in agricultural occupations (41%) or for the Scottish population overall (52%).” |
Scotland’s Census 2022 - Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion |
Although there is national data, there is limited data about religion / belief within agriculture and in the sectors that provide services and advice to it. The CPD consultation will need to consider whether there are any issues relating to religion or belief that impact on the CPD system and CPD activities. |
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Marriage and civil partnership (the Scottish Government does not require assessment against this protected characteristic unless the policy or practice relates to work, for example HR policies and practices - refer to Definitions of Protected Characteristics document for details) |
Table 9 of the June Returns 2025 sets out that of the occupier(s) full time, there were 8,069 males and 2,043 females. Of the occupier(s) half time or more there were 3,150 males and 1,994 females. Of the occupier(s) less than half time there were 9,081 males and 6,975 females. There were a total of 20,300 male and 11,012 female working occupiers. The Agricultural Household Survey (2025) states that “Just over seven in ten active farmers (71%) were married or in a registered civil partnership, 15% were never married and never registered in a civil partnership, 7% were widowed or surviving a partner, 5% were divorced or formerly in a civil partnership which is now legally dissolved, and 2% were separated but legally still married or in a civil partnership. The proportion of active farmers who were married or in a civil partnership was much higher than for people identified through the 2022 Census who were in agricultural occupations (55%) or for the Scottish population overall (45%)." |
The agricultural census data does not distinguish between spouses in marriage and spouses in civil partnership. As CPD relates to work and personal and professional development, the consultation on CPD will consider any issues relating to marriage and civil partnership. |
Contact
Email: Tier4ARP@gov.scot