This report investigates the relationship between education and skills for New Zealand adults, how this relationship has changed over time and how it compares to other countries. Barriers to further education and how the relationship between education and skills varies for different genders and ethnic groups is also explored.
Key Results
- People with higher qualifications have higher average skills
- People with bachelors or higher qualifications have similar average skill levels in different countries
- Māori with higher qualifications have lower average skill levels than New Zealand Europeans with the same qualifications
- Men have higher average numeracy skills than women, and this difference is greatest among those with higher qualifications
- Young people with school qualifications have much higher average skills than those with no qualifications
- Time constraints are the greatest barrier to further study among both men and women