Numbers suggest that the EU has been successfully up-skilling in the last ten years. The proportion of low-qualified adults (those without upper-secondary education) in the EU27 decreased from 28.8% in 2013 to 24.9% in 2022 (Eurostat 2023a). However, this group still makes up a quarter of the working-age population (aged 15–64), making them a significant population group in the labour market. Low-qualified adults are a vulnerable group, as they face higher unemployment rates and are more likely to be in low-paying jobs. The unemployment rate for this group was 11.6% in 2023, compared to 5.6% for those with higher education levels (Eurostat 2023b).
Low-Qualified but Highly Skilled
Research using data from the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) reveals that low-qualified workers are not always less skilled (see for example Heisig 2018 and Heisig and Solga 2015). Although there is generally a skill gap between low-qualified and higher-qualified adults, there is significant variability within the low-qualified group. Some low-qualified adults have skills comparable to or exceeding those of higher-qualified workers. This discrepancy highlights that formal qualifications often misrepresent individuals' skills.
The relationship between formal qualifications and skills varies by country. In nations with tracked education systems, where students are divided into different types of secondary schools, the skill gap is wider, and there is less variation in skill levels among low-qualified adults. Countries with strong vocational education and training systems, like Germany, somewhat mitigate the negative impact of educational tracking on skills.
Barriers to training: The Struggles of Low-Qualified Workers
Even when low-qualified workers possess high literacy and numeracy skills, their formal qualifications still limit their job opportunities. This is especially true in countries where formal qualifications are highly transparent indicators of skill levels. Thus, low-qualified individuals often end up in less desirable jobs despite their actual competencies.
Access to further training for low-qualified workers also remains limited. Workplace characteristics, such as job roles and company size, rather than individual skills or motivation, are the main barriers to training participation. In addition, smaller companies and part-time positions often offer fewer training opportunities for employees.
Policy Recommendations
Addressing the challenges faced by low-qualified adults requires a multifaceted approach. To improve the employment prospects of low-skilled workers, it is essential to focus on workplaces and on companies' human resource strategies. Concretely, this implies recognising and utilising workers’ skills better, and increasing their access to job-related non-formal training (NFT).
In addition, policymakers should foster cooperation between training providers, public authorities, and sectoral associations; encourage employers to see training as an investment rather than a cost, and promote policies that enhance early childhood education and inclusive school systems to reduce educational inequalities from an early age.
References:
Eurostat. (2023a). Population by educational attainment level, sex and age (%) – main indicators. doi:10.2908/EDAT_LFSE_03
Eurostat. (2023b). Unemployment rates by sex, age and educational attainment level (%). doi:10.2908/LFSQ_URGAED
Heisig, J. P. (2018). Measuring the signaling value of educational degrees. Secondary education systems and the internal homogeneity of educational groups. Large-Scale Assessments in Education. doi:10.1186/s40536-018-0062-1
Heisig, J. P. and Solga, H. (2015). Secondary education systems and the general skills of less- and intermediate-educated adults. Sociology of Education, 88(3), 202–25. https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/190499
Acknowledgement
This publication is part of the Mapineq project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No. 101061645 (www.mapineq.eu). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Read more about the Mapineq project here and follow the project on X and LinkedIn. You can also register to receive Mapineq's bi-annual newsletter here.