View in EDS

Survey of Adult Skills 2023 (PIAAC): Young People Thematic Report. Research Report

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Survey of Adult Skills 2023 (PIAAC): Young People Thematic Report. Research Report
Language: English
Authors: Rachel Classick, Lisa Kuhn, Juan Manuel del Pozo Segura, Jose Liht, Rebecca Wheater, Department for Education (DfE) (United Kingdom)
Source: UK Department for Education. 2026.
Availability: UK Department for Education. Castle View House East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2GJ, UK. Tel: +44-37-0000-2288; Fax: +44-19-2873-8248; Web site: http://www.education.gov.uk
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 54
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: Adults, Foreign Countries, Skill Development, Influences, Cohort Analysis, Individual Characteristics, Young Adults
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
ISBN: 978-1-83870-771-2
Abstract: The 2023 OECD Survey of Adult Skills found great improvement in the skills of young people in England compared to 2012 (Wheater et al., 2024). There have been two cycles of the survey, Cycle 1 in 2012 and Cycle 2 in 2023. In 2012, 16-24-year-olds in England were among the lowest performers internationally in literacy and numeracy. Unlike most other countries who took part where younger adults (aged 16-24) outperformed older adults (aged 55-65), England's youngest adults scored similarly to the oldest adults (Wheater et al., 2013). This report compares the youngest cohorts in 2012 and 2023 to explore factors behind their skills gains and tracks the 2012 cohort over time. It addresses 4 research questions: (1) What are the differences in characteristics between young people in 2012 and 2023?; (2) How have skills changed by different characteristics?; (3) What factors are associated with low skills for adults aged 16-24 in 2023; and how have factors associated with low skills of young people changed since 2012?; and (4) How have skills changed for the birth cohort aged 16-24 in 2012 and 27-35 in 2023? Throughout this report the authors refer to 'young people' and 'birth cohort'. Young people are adults aged 16-24 years old in 2012 and 2023. Birth cohort describes two groups of adults, young adults aged 16-24 in 2012, and adults aged 27-35 in 2023. As no longitudinal data was available, this is a proxy to identify trends.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679914
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:The 2023 OECD Survey of Adult Skills found great improvement in the skills of young people in England compared to 2012 (Wheater et al., 2024). There have been two cycles of the survey, Cycle 1 in 2012 and Cycle 2 in 2023. In 2012, 16-24-year-olds in England were among the lowest performers internationally in literacy and numeracy. Unlike most other countries who took part where younger adults (aged 16-24) outperformed older adults (aged 55-65), England's youngest adults scored similarly to the oldest adults (Wheater et al., 2013). This report compares the youngest cohorts in 2012 and 2023 to explore factors behind their skills gains and tracks the 2012 cohort over time. It addresses 4 research questions: (1) What are the differences in characteristics between young people in 2012 and 2023?; (2) How have skills changed by different characteristics?; (3) What factors are associated with low skills for adults aged 16-24 in 2023; and how have factors associated with low skills of young people changed since 2012?; and (4) How have skills changed for the birth cohort aged 16-24 in 2012 and 27-35 in 2023? Throughout this report the authors refer to 'young people' and 'birth cohort'. Young people are adults aged 16-24 years old in 2012 and 2023. Birth cohort describes two groups of adults, young adults aged 16-24 in 2012, and adults aged 27-35 in 2023. As no longitudinal data was available, this is a proxy to identify trends.
ISBN:978-1-83870-771-2