Sexual orientation and gender identity by occupation

FOI reference: FOI-2025-2824

You asked

I am looking for information about primary school teachers who have taught between 1980 and 2025 who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or asexual.

We said

Thank you for your request. 

Voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, for those aged 16 years and over, were included in Census 2021 for the first time. A list of Census 2021 analysis on sexual orientation and gender identity are available on our website.

We have produced an ad hoc dataset (CT21_0313 - Occupation) showing Census 2021 by occupation and sexual orientation on our website. This is also available in the associated download. This table provides Census 2021 estimates that classify all usual residents aged 16 years or over in employment the week before the Census by occupation (four digits), by highest level of qualification by sexual orientation for regions in England and Wales. Teachers are included in codes 2311 to 2329.

We also offer Census 2021 ad hoc tables that can be commissioned to your own specification. As we have not previously created an ad hoc of Census 2021 data by occupation and gender identity (for example, transgender), this or something similar could be created for you using this service. Please contact census.customer.services@ons.gov.uk to discuss your enquiry further.

Please note, there will be a charge for this work that would be subject to our charging policy. Such services are also subject to legal frameworks, resources and disclosure controls. You can download a copy of the order form, which details the scale of charges for this service. 

We also collect sexual orientation data by occupation through the Annual Population Survey (APS). We hold data from 2012 to 2023. You can also request an output of these data through our Social Surveys team by emailing socialsurveys@ons.gov.uk, subject to the same terms and conditions.