PIAAC Cycle 2 International Results Released

Release of PIAAC results

The PIAAC 2nd Cycle of the Survey of Adult Skills released its results in December 2024. The survey evaluates literacy, numeracy, and adaptive problem-solving skills among people aged 16-65, providing a critical overview of how these skills are utilized in various life and work settings. In this cycle, 31 countries and economies participated. 

Key findings include:

  • Finland, Japan, and the Nordic nations excelled in all the areas, while 18% of adults in OECD countries lacked basic skills in any of the domains. 
  • Literacy proficiency stagnated or declined in most countries, with Denmark and Finland as exceptions, while numeracy showed improvement in eight countries, led by Finland and Singapore.
  • Higher educational qualifications do not always equate to better skills and knowledge.
  • About one-third of workers in OECD countries mismatched for their jobs in terms of qualifications, skills, or field of study.
  • Adults with highly educated parents displayed better literacy skills compared to those with less educated parents.