14 November 2025
OECD report on the skills that matter for adulthood
The OECD has published its ‘Skills that matter for success and wellbeing in adulthood’ report, based on insights from the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills.
The 2023 survey went beyond exploring skills such as literacy, numeracy and problem solving, to include social and emotional measures such as agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion and openness to new experiences.
Insights included identifying openness and emotional stability as moderate but consistent predictors of educational attainment. Extraversion and emotional stability are positively associated with employment status and job satisfaction, plus greater life satisfaction and better health. Openness is linked to volunteering and belief in the ability to shape political affairs.
It found that the biggest differences between individuals’ skills were based around levels of educational attainment. There were also variations based on age, gender, the education attainment of parents and more.
Read the Skills that matter for success and wellbeing in adulthood report.
The 2023 survey went beyond exploring skills such as literacy, numeracy and problem solving, to include social and emotional measures such as agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion and openness to new experiences.
Insights included identifying openness and emotional stability as moderate but consistent predictors of educational attainment. Extraversion and emotional stability are positively associated with employment status and job satisfaction, plus greater life satisfaction and better health. Openness is linked to volunteering and belief in the ability to shape political affairs.
It found that the biggest differences between individuals’ skills were based around levels of educational attainment. There were also variations based on age, gender, the education attainment of parents and more.
Read the Skills that matter for success and wellbeing in adulthood report.
0 Comments
Latest career development news
View all
CDI urges families to ask "what is your school providing?" as Res...
As Level 3 and GCSE Results Days approach, CDI is calling on families to ask their child's school what careers support is on offer - before, on an...
11 August 2026
CDI launch new resources on Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs...
Two new resources on Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) have been launched as part of the Technical Education Programme.
06 August 2026
