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In the wake of the technological revolution that began in the last decades of the 20th century, labour market demand for information-processing and other high-level cognitive and interpersonal skills is growing substantially. The Survey of Adult Skills, a product of the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), was designed to provide insights into the availability of some of these key skills in society and how they are used at work and at home. The first survey of its kind, it directly measures proficiency in several information-processing skills - namely literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environments.

This publication describes the design and methodology of the survey and its relationship to other international assessments of young students and adults. It is a companion volume to 'Skills matter: further results from the Survey of Adult Skills'. This volume presents the results from the 24 countries and regions that participated in the first round of the survey in 2011-12, first published in 'OECD skills outlook 2013: first results from the Survey of Adult Skills' and from the nine additional countries that participated in the second round in 2014-15 (Chile, Greece, Indonesia [Jakarta], Israel, Lithuania, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia and Turkey).

Edited abstract from publisher's website.

The contents are as follows: What the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) measures; The background questionnaire of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC); The methodology of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and the quality of data; Reporting the results of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC); Relationship of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) to other international skills surveys; Relationship between the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA); The Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and 'key competencies'; The Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and the measurement of human capital. Show less

Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, most higher education institutions across the OECD decided to close their campuses. As a result, teaching and assessment activities have been conducted from a distance, generally online. Based on the literature and on the experiences of the international network of higher education institutions participating in the project on Fostering and Assessing Creativity and Critical Thinking of the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI), this brief outlines possible short-term and long-term solutions for organising student examinations on line in the context of campus closures and social distancing measures. This policy brief explores the following questions: What are the challenges and solutions to designing and conducting end-of-term examinations on line following campus closures? What new forms of examinations could replace or supplement the mainstream methods in the future?

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The labour market outcomes for native- and foreign-born adults during the first year of the [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 pandemic vary considerably across countries - with inequalities in employment even falling in some cases compared to 2017. In contrast with the 2008 financial crisis, greater educational attainment does not seem to have had a clear protective effect against labour market adversities during the pandemic. This is most likely due to countries' quick action to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic and the high involvement of workers with low qualifications to maintain essential services during prolonged confinement periods. However, in some countries, inequalities in earnings were widening before the pandemic and unless appropriate measures are put in place, the economic effects of the current crisis may have a long-lasting negative effect on the integration of immigrants.

Excerpt from publisher's website. Show less

Reform of education, training and human resource development is an integral part of the transition to a democratic society and a market economy. This book gives a brief overview of regional issues and the history of post-secondary education in Kazakhstan and describes the development of higher and tertiary education in the country since the transition began. It presents an analysis of the education system, identifying key directions for the reinforcement of the reforms in light of the challenges encountered by officials, communities, enterprises, educators, parents and students under very dynamic conditions. It concludes with a set of key recommendations concerning the structure of the system and its labour market relevance; access and equity; financing; governance and management; internationalisation; and research, development and innovation.

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The focus of this study is on the potential causes of skill mismatch, the extent of skill mismatch, the socio-demographic make-up of skill mismatch, and the consequences of skill mismatch in terms of earnings as well as employer sponsored adult education/training. A distinction is made between skill mismatch and education mismatch. The analysis is based on the 2003-2007 Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey (ALLS) - a dataset similar to the one that is forthcoming from the Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) in 2013. These studies contain direct measures of key foundation skills as well as measures of the use of certain generic skills at work which allow for a direct measure of skill mismatch. The analysis points to the complex ways in which mismatch is generated and the need for an accurate and up to date measure of mismatch, one that reflects the possibilities for skill gain and skill loss over the lifespan, and reflects differences in the quality of qualifications. Two key findings stand out. First, including supply and demand characteristics in an earnings function reveals that labour demand characteristics are more important than labour supply characteristics in explaining earnings differentials. In other words, skills matter for earnings but only if they are required by the job. This has direct implications for understanding better the causes of mismatch on earnings. Second, the skill content of jobs seems to be an even stronger determinant of participation in employer supported adult education/training than educational attainment or literacy proficiency. The influence of demand characteristics thus tends to outweigh the influence of supply characteristics when employers make the decision to support adult education/training. Addressing mismatch thus requires a careful consideration of both the demand and supply sides of the labour market, so as to understand better the variety of factors which may have a negative impact on the effectiveness of skill formation, skill maintenance, and also skill use.

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Catalonia is the main contributor to Spain's economy. For a long time it has led strategic investment in research and development in Spain and developed highly successful programmes to attract talent. The region also has a unique identity with its own language and a distinct cultural heritage. Catalonia is now feeling the effects of the economic crisis. How can it prepare for the post-crisis economy with the help of the university system? How can it balance attracting expertise from abroad with nurturing talent among its diverse population? How can it unleash the potential of universities to contribute to local and regional development? This publication is part of the series of OECD reviews of Higher Education in Regional and City Development. These reviews help mobilise higher education institutions for economic, social and cultural development of cities and regions. They analyse how the higher education system impacts upon regional and local development and bring together universities, other higher education institutions and public and private agencies to identify strategic goals and to work towards them.

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This chapter examines the importance of local partnerships in securing the effectiveness of United Kingdom (UK) welfare-to-work policies and in particular of the New Deal program. It aims to be useful to those, in the UK and elsewhere in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), who are actively pursuing welfare-to-work policies which have a local design or delivery component. It outlines the nature of UK welfare-to-work programs, focusing on the New Deal and Employment Zones and assesses the importance of the local dimension in such policies and the need for local partnerships. In the main part of the chapter, key lessons are set out from local partnership practice and research, which can be used to inform partnership formation, management and development, together with their implications for welfare-to-work programs in the UK and other countries. The following two sections contain reflections on the UK New Deal local partnerships, based on their early experience so far and conclusions on the future development of welfare-to-work partnerships in the light of the issues discussed.

This publication is indexed at TD/INT 61.539. Show less

The OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Programme has developed the OECD ‘Reviews on local job creation’ as an international cross-comparative study examining the contribution of local labour market policy to boosting quality employment and productivity. In Canada, the review has looked at the range of institutions and bodies involved in employment and skills policies. In-depth work was undertaken in Ontario and Quebec, looking at the Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Mauricie and Estrie regions.

The contents are as follows: Executive summary; Reader’s guide; Policy context for employment and skills in Canada; Ontario’s employment and skills system; Quebec’s employment and skills system; Overview of the Canadian case study areas; Local job creation dashboard findings in Canada; Towards an action plan for jobs in Canada: recommendations and best practices. Show less

The OECD annual report on jobs and employment in OECD countries reviews recent trends, policy developments, and prospects. The 2021 edition of the OECD Employment Outlook [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 145.163] focusses on the labour market implications of the [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 crisis. Country notes are available for Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In some countries, employers used job retention programmes to cut hours while allowing workers to keep their pay and jobs; there, it is likely that the full impact of the pandemic is yet to be felt. In others, there have been unprecedented increases in unemployment, but many workers will return to their jobs (or to new ones) as economies re-open and activity picks up.

Australia successfully ran a job retention scheme that helped support a large number of jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. By April/May 2020, 30.5 per cent of workers were employed on the scheme. Given the improvement of the health and economic situation, the scheme has now ended. Australia increased funding over four years to provide extra support to individuals affected by the crisis. In addition, it offered funding to enhance digital services for jobseekers to compensate for reduced in-person service. Additional training programmes were offered, training was moved online and training places were expanded to ensure individuals could continue to improve their skills in order to be ready for their next job.

Edited excerpts from publisher's website and publication. Show less

This report notes that Colombia has made major economic and social advances in recent years. The combination of strong economic growth and policies targeted at the most vulnerable groups improved considerably the living standards of the Colombian population. Today, the country enjoys higher employment and labour force participation rates than the average of OECD countries and unemployment is steadily declining. Nevertheless, despite these positive trends, deep structural problems remain. Labour informality is widespread, the rate of self-employment is high and many employees have non-regular contracts. Income inequality is higher than in any OECD country and redistribution through taxes and benefits is almost negligible. In addition, half a century of internal conflict and violence has displaced a significant part of the population, and many of them are living in extreme poverty. Despite considerable progress, violence continues to be a challenge and also affects trade union members and leaders.

The Colombian government has undertaken important reforms in recent years to address these labour market and social challenges, and the efforts are gradually paying off. However, further progress is needed to enhance the quality of jobs and well-being for all. The main thrust of this report is to support the Colombian government in tackling labour market duality, generate trust between the social partners, develop inclusive and active social policies, and get the most out of international migration. The contents are as follows: Strong growth but unequal Colombian society; Towards more equal job opportunities in Colombia; Enforcing labour rights in Colombia; Improving redistribution in Colombia through social policy; Making the most out of international migration for Colombia.

Edited excerpts from publication. Show less