Education is important for both the present, giving individuals the knowledge and skills to participate fully and effectively in society, and for the future, as it helps expand scientific and cultural knowledge. This spread shows the level to which adults have studied, a measure that is often used as a proxy to illustrate human capital, or the skills available in a population and labour force.

A well-educated population is essential for economic and social development; societies therefore have a real interest in ensuring that children and adults have access to a wide range of educational opportunities. This spread examines the evolution in access to education from 1995 to 2009, focusing on the number of young people who continue studying once compulsory education has ended.

This indicator shows how many students finish secondary education. Completing upper secondary education does not in itself guarantee that students are adequately equipped with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to enter the labour market or tertiary studies. However, research has shown that young people in OECD countries who do not finish this level of education face severe difficulties when it comes to finding work. Policy makers are examining ways to reduce the number of early school-leavers, defined as those students who do not complete their upper secondary education. Internationally comparable measures of how many students successfully complete upper secondary programmes – which also imply how many students don’t complete those programmes – can assist efforts to that end.

This indicator shows how many students will enter a specific type of tertiary education programme during their lifetimes. It also sheds light on the accessibility and perceived value of attending tertiary programmes, and provides some indication of the degree to which a population is acquiring the high-level skills and knowledge valued by today’s labour market. High entry and participation rates in tertiary education imply that a highly educated labour force is being developed and maintained.

Tertiary education serves as an indicator of the capacity at which countries produce advanced knowledge. Countries with high graduation rates at tertiary level are also those most likely to be developing or maintaining a highly skilled labour force. Graduation rates from tertiary education (the structure and scope of which varies widely between countries) are influenced both by the degree of access to tertiary programmes and by the demand for higher skills in the labour market.

Students typically graduate from upper secondary education in their late teens and from tertiary education by their mid-20s. However, in a number of countries some students study well beyond these age ranges. While some governments are taking measures to encourage students to make the most of their capacities by moving more rapidly into and through tertiary education, there is also value in ensuring that opportunities exist for people to complete their studies later in life so that they can equip themselves to compete in the labour market.

This spread examines the different fields of study pursued by students. Faced with an economic downturn and shrinking budgets, governments need to invest in the fields of study that develop the competencies needed to respond to labour-market demands. Students’ preferences and abilities, and the cost, duration and location of higher education can all influence the choice of a field of study, as can changes in the labour market. In turn, the relative popularity of various fields of education affects the demand for programmes and teaching staff, as well as the supply of new graduates.

The recession that followed the financial crisis of 2008 has led to a big increase in unemployment in OECD countries. When the labour market deteriorates, those making the transition from school to work are often the first to encounter difficulties. This spread looks at the number of years young people can be expected to spend in education, employment and non-employment. In the wake of the economic crisis, long-term unemployment among young adults is likely to rise in most countries, especially for those who have not completed upper secondary education.

Continuing education and training for adults is essential to upgrade workers’ skills and enhance an economy’s overall skill level. This is especially important as economies grapple with trends such as globalisation, changing technologies, the shift from manufacturing to services and more flexible management practices that increase the responsibility of lower-level workers. Changing demographics are also a major challenge: as societies age, people will need to work till later in life, hence developing the skills of older workers will be essential. With this background, this spread examines the extent to which the working age population is participating and investing in education and training.

This spread looks at the extent to which students are studying abroad. Pursuing higher-level education in a foreign country allows students to expand their knowledge of other cultures and languages, and to better equip themselves in an increasingly globalised labour market. Some countries, particularly in the European Union, have even established policies and schemes that promote such mobility to foster intercultural contacts and help build social networks.

This indicator describes students’ preferred destinations and subjects they study. Beyond its social and educational effects, the phenomenon of studying abroad has a considerable economic impact. Some OECD countries already show signs of specialisation in the sort of education programmes they offer, and the internationalisation of education is likely to have a growing impact on some countries’ balance of payments of services as a result of revenue from tuition fees and domestic consumption by international students.

This spread examines students who decide to remain in the host country after completion of their studies. International students decide to stay in their country of study for various reasons, including: increased work opportunities compared to their country of origin, ease of integration into their host country, and future career advantages when returning to their country of origin or when moving to a third country.