Education in the developed world has reached an all-time high with almost half of young adults now completing a tertiary education.
The latest analysis by the OECD found 48 percent of youth in member and partner countries had tertiary qualifications, up from 27 percent in 2000.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said the Education at a Glance 2025 report showed that despite overall growth in tertiary attainment, family background continued to strongly influence who pursued higher education.
Mr Cormann said just 26 percent of young adults from less-educated families held a tertiary qualification, versus 70 percent from highly educated households, in 2023.
“Financial barriers and limited academic and social support often hold back disadvantaged students.”
He said low tertiary completion rates also undermined the return on public investment, deepened skills shortages and limited access to opportunities.
“Across 32 OECD and partner countries, only 43 percent of bachelor’s students graduate on time, rising to just 70 percent within three additional years, with relatively lower rates among men (63 percent compared to 75 percent for women).
“High-quality tertiary education equips learners with the skills needed to seize opportunities in evolving labour markets, while enabling our societies to navigate structural transformations from population ageing, artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and the green transition.”
Mr Cormann said aligning education with labour market needs would be key, as persistent skills mismatches imposed real costs on wages and productivity and affected individual well-being.
He said low completion rates were often rooted in a mismatch between students’ expectations and program content, inadequate academic preparation, and insufficient support systems.
“Strengthening academic preparation and career guidance in secondary education, as well as designing tertiary programmes with clearly defined course sequences and support measures for those at risk of falling behind, would help.”
Read the full report: Education at a Glance 2025.
