International Comparisons of Qualifications: Skills Audit Updating Hilary Steedman Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics BUILDING A EUROPEAN VET AREA Agora THESSALONIKI XXVI

Based on a report to the Department for Education and Skills Hilary Steedman Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics Steve McIntosh Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics Andy Green Institute of Education, University of London

Skills Audit methodology The Skills Audit work in 1996, 1999 and 2004 sets other countries’ qualifications equivalent to UK levels based on extensive empirical investigation of standards undertaken in 1996 UK < Level 2 and Level 2 = ISCED 2 UK Level 3 = ISCED 3 (all upper secondary vocational and academic qualifications and all skills qualifications at this level UK > Level 3 = ISCED 4, 5, 6, 7

Population aged by level and type of qualification held Level 2+ Level 3+

Narrowing the gap: year olds at Level UK (a) France Germany (b) Singapore c) USA

UK France Germany Singapore USA Narrowing the gap: year olds at Level 3+

Using pseudo cohorts to analyses the composition of changes in the stock of skills

Two ways to increase the stock of skills 1.upgrading the skills of the existing workforce. 2.making each new cohort to enter the labour market more skilled than the last.

Analyse 2 cohorts Cohort 1 –Aged in 1985 –Aged in 1991 –Aged in 1997 Cohort 2 –Aged in 1991 –Aged in 1997 –Aged in 2003

Conclusions In France and Germany (but not in the UK) young people in their 20s continue to learn and reach higher skill levels This trend has slowed markedly in the late ’90s compared to the early ’90s Vocational qualifications account for a significant proportion of Level 3 qualifications in France and Germany Almost all certified qualification outcomes are achieved before age 27. Flows of individuals age 27 or less account for almost all qualification growth in France, UK and Germany