Increasing levels of education around the world

Within most OECD countries, the percentage of 25- to 34-year-olds with tertiary attainment is moderately to considerably higher than the percentage of 55- to 64-year-olds with tertiary attainment. Exceptions to this trend include Germany, Israel and the United States.

In 2010, 25 OECD countries had upper secondary attainment rates of 80% or more among 25- to 34-year-olds, according to the OECD 2012 Education at a Glance report. The following is an extract from the report.

Educational attainment is a commonly used proxy for the stock of human capital – that is, the skills available in the population and the labour force.

As globalisation and technology continue to reshape the needs of the global labour market, the demand for individuals who possess a broader knowledge base, more specialised skills, advanced analytical capacities, and complex communication skills continues to rise. Read More...