Press Release: Survey of adult skills highlights need to improve education and training

One in five adults in Europe have low literacy and numeracy skills, and even a university degree in the same subject is no guarantee of the same level of skills in different countries, according to the first comprehensive international Survey of Adult Skills published on 8 October 2013 by the OECD and European Commission.

The survey assesses the literacy, numeracy and problem-solving ICT skills of adults aged 16-65 in 17 EU Member States - Belgium (Flanders), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, The Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden and the UK (England/Northern Ireland), as well as in Australia, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway and the United States.

The findings underline the need to target investment at improving education and training to increase skills and employability in European countries.

OECD: Skills Surveys: PIAAC: Survey of Adult Skills http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/surveyofadultskills.htm

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/13/790: Europe must act urgently to address skills deficit http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-790_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/860: PIAAC Survey of Adult Skills – frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-860_en.pdf

Social Europe Journal, 08.10.13: OECD-PIAAC – Radical New Insights Into Adults’ Skills And Competences! http://www.social-europe.eu/2013/10/oecd-piaac-radical-new-insights-into-adults-skills-and-competences/

The Guardian, 08.10.13: Business leaders issue stark warning following OECD education study http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/08/uk-economy-warning-oecd-education

Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/

EUObserver, 08.10.13: Education report to 'scare' EU ministers into action http://euobserver.com/education/121706

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