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‘Learning a living’, the first report from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey, presents new evidence on the nature and magnitude of the literacy gaps faced by OECD countries and how these gaps have evolved over the past decade. It offers new insights into the factors that influence the formation and loss of adult skills in various settings, at home and at work, for the seven countries participating in the first round of data collection. The study offers the first comparative evidence on the impact of formal adult education and informal learning on the supply of skills. It also provides unique insight into the distribution of information and communication technology skills, and how these have amplified both productivity and wage inequality. Findings point to large differences in the average level and population distribution of skills both within and between countries. Low skills are evident among all adult groups in significant, albeit varying, proportions. Skills vary substantially even at similar levels of educational attainment. Hence some countries are more successful than others in building skills beyond initial schooling. These differences matter because skills are closely associated with economic life chances and quality of life. Improving skills, particularly among those with real life deficits, remains a large challenge. But policy can make a difference. The evidence shows how some countries have succeeded in building high levels of skill in multiple domains. Others have managed to improve the skills of the entire population. Still others have come close to realizing lifelong learning for all.

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This brief paper presents evidence on the relationship between education and social outcomes including health, civic engagement and subjective well-being across many OECD countries. The findings suggest that education can bring significant benefits to society, not only through higher employment opportunities and income but also via enhanced skills, improved social status and access to networks. Show less

In the context of high rates of youth unemployment and underemployment, giving youth a better start in the labour market is a key priority for countries. Consequently, at the G20 Ministerial Meeting in May 2012 in Guadalajara, it was agreed that a comprehensive strategy is needed to boost youth employment, and that quality apprenticeships, in particular, have an important role to play in promoting a smooth transition from school to productive employment. Well-designed apprenticeship systems can promote skills acquisition, facilitate the transition from school to work, improve employment opportunities and reduce school drop-out rates. This background paper was prepared for the G20-OECD-EC Conference on Quality Apprenticeships for Giving Youth a Better Start in the Labour Market. It discusses the key issues related to apprenticeships and provides short country examples.

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In 2001, the OECD launched a review of policies to improve labour market prospects for older workers. The aim of this review is to examine both supply-side and demand-side aspects of this topic. Older workers have been defined as those aged 50 years and over. This report on Norway identifies the challenges arising due to an ageing population. It outlines the current labour market situation for older workers in Norway, investigates the impact of welfare benefits on workers’ decisions to retire, and explores employer practices of retaining and hiring older workers. The final two chapters of the report focus on methods of enhancing older people’s employability and ways to increase the use of potential labour supply. Show less

Throughout the OECD, there is growing recognition that mental health is a major issue in social and labour market policy. Mental illness exacts a heavy price on people, employers, and the economy at large, affecting wellbeing and employment, and causing substantial productivity losses. Austria has seen a rapid increase over the past 20 years in sickness absences and disability benefit claims attributable to mental disorders. Overall benefit dependency among the working-age population is high, with many claimants of all types of benefits, including unemployment benefit, reporting mental health problems. While the Austrian labour market is in good shape and was comparatively little affected by the recent economic downturn, at least initially, the mentally unwell underperform in the job market. Their unemployment rate is almost thrice the national average and their employment rates are lower.

Excerpts from publication.

The chapters are as follows: Executive summary; Assessment and recommendations; Mental health and work challenges in Austria; Benefit reform in Austria to tackle widespread inactivity; Preventing labour market exit at Austrian workplaces; Improving the job prospects of vulnerable young people in the Austrian education system; Linking mental health policy in Austria to other policy fields. Show less

Research has demonstrated that, in OECD countries, young people with lower qualifications are more vulnerable in terms of employment stability and access to further learning opportunities. Early school leaving has therefore become a key educational policy issue. This report presents the findings of a project on ‘Young adults with low levels of education’, undertaken in partnership between the OECD and the Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN). The project examined the extent to which young men and women with low levels of education are marginalised, the role family background plays in making it possible to complete the recognised minimal level of education, and how immigrants overcome cultural and language gaps to gain employment. For the purposes of the project, a young adult with a low level of education was referred to as ‘a person aged 20-24 years who has not successfully completed upper secondary school and who is not enrolled in education or in a work-study program’. The study covered 25 OECD countries and provides evidence that the impact on transition of the structure and outcomes of education systems is combined with several important individual and social background variables. Show less

In 2001, the OECD launched a review of policies to improve labour market prospects for older workers. The aim of this review is to examine both supply-side and demand-side aspects of this topic. Older workers have been defined as those aged 50 years and over. The review argues that many policy measures and workplace practices create significant barriers to older workers continuing to work and that current reforms will not be sufficient to encourage later retirement and to lessen the risk of future labour shortages. This report on the Czech Republic is part of a series of OECD country reports that investigates what countries are doing or should be doing to promote better employment opportunities for older people. It contains a survey of the main barriers to employment for older workers, an assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing measures to overcome these barriers and a set of policy recommendations for further action by the government, employers, trade unions and older workers themselves. The report concludes that the Czech government has implemented important measures to improve the employment prospects of older workers in recent years. A comprehensive strategy is recommended that will encompass enhancements to both supply and demand sides. A French translation of the executive summary and recommendations has been included in this volume. Show less

In 2001, the OECD launched a review of policies to improve labour market prospects for older workers. The aim of this review is to examine both supply-side and demand-side aspects of this topic. Older workers have been defined as those aged 50 years and over. The review argues that many policy measures and workplace practices create significant barriers to older workers continuing to work and that current reforms will not be sufficient to encourage later retirement and to lessen the risk of future labour shortages. Statistical evidence suggests that in Austria, the proportion of persons aged 65 and over to the working-age population will double to 30% by 2050. It is argued that unless policy changes are made, this population ageing could lead to higher public expenditures, labour force shortages, and slower economic growth. This report surveys the main barriers to employment for older workers, assesses of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing measures to overcome these barriers and presents a set of policy recommendations for further action by the public authorities and social partners. It examines the balances between income support and work incentives, methods for encouraging employers to hire and retain workers, and policies for ensuring the employability of older workers. This report is published in English with a French translation of the executive summary and recommendations. The chapter are: Executive summary and policy recommendations; Introduction; The challenge ahead; Older workers in the Austrian labour market; Providing social protection while enhancing work incentives; Incentives for employers to retain and hire older workers; Ensuring employability of workers at all ages; Confronting policy dilemmas and obstacles; Bibliography. Show less

Job displacement (involuntary job loss due to firm closure or downsizing) affects many workers over their lifetime. Displaced workers may face long periods of unemployment and, even when they find new jobs, tend to be paid less and have fewer benefits than in their prior jobs. Helping them get back into good jobs quickly should be a key goal of labour market policy. This report is part of a series of reports looking at how this challenge is being tackled in a number of OECD countries. It shows that in New Zealand most displaced workers find a new job again, largely due to a strong economy and a highly flexible labour market. But many of them face large losses in terms of job quality and especially wages. And displaced workers facing difficulties in New Zealand are largely left on their own to find a new job, as the means-tested public benefit system only provides for people in need and employment services concentrate on helping people off benefit with limited focus on those not receiving a benefit.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.

Nine countries are participating in the review: Australia; Canada; Denmark; Finland; Japan; Korea; New Zealand; Sweden; and USA. The chapters are as follows: Job displacement in New Zealand and its consequences; Easing the impact of economic restructuring on displaced workers in New Zealand; Re-employment support for displaced workers in New Zealand who struggle to find a new job. Show less

With the widespread diffusion of [information and communication technology] ICT, it is often claimed that 'digital skills, or the capacity to use ICT devices and applications to access and manage information and solve problems, have become essential skills. Is this really true? Do people who are highly proficient in these skills have better chances of participating in the labour force and earning higher wages than those who are less proficient? This brief paper draws on the Survey of Adult Skills (a product of the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, PIAAC), which provides some answers by testing the ability of adults to solve problems that require the use of common computer applications, such as e-mail, web browsers and spreadsheets.

The findings suggest that: (1) having the highest levels of skills in problem solving using ICT increases chances of participating in the labour force by six percentage points compared with adults who have the lowest levels of these skills, even after accounting for various other factors, such as age, gender, level of education, literacy and numeracy proficiency, and use of e-mail at home; (2) adults without ICT experience are less likely to participate in the labour force; if they are employed, they earn less than adults with ICT experience, after accounting for various other factors; (3) experience in using ICT has a particularly large impact on participation in the labour force and earnings in Australia, England/Northern Ireland (UK) and the United States; and (4) workers who use ICT frequently have substantially higher wages than those who do not use ICT often.

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