Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Educational attainment is strongly associated with labor market participation across OECD countries. Among individuals aged 25-34, those without an upper secondary degree have an employment rate of about 60%, while those with tertiary qualifications have an average employment rate of 87%. Unemployment rates decrease from 13% to 5%, and inactivity rates decline from 31% to 9% for the same age group as education levels increase. This pattern is consistent for both genders and has remained stable over decades, despite rising attainment levels across the OECD.
For older adults aged 55-64, those with below upper secondary education have an inactivity rate of 46%, compared to 32% for those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education, and 21% for those with tertiary education. This underscores the policy focus on retaining older adults in the workforce as populations age in OECD countries.
Regarding earnings, full-time workers with upper secondary education earn on average 18% more than those with below upper secondary levels. Tertiary graduates typically earn nearly twice as much as individuals with below upper secondary education across OECD nations.