PIAAC – Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies
The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) is an international programme aimed at assessing adult skills, and designed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with many participating Countries throughout the world, including Italy.
By collecting a vast amount of data, the PIAAC Programme pursues scientific goals as well as useful objectives to recommend and implement effective policy measures intended to develop and strengthen adult skills.
The Programme is implemented by conducting an international statistical survey.
The survey aims to make updated databases available, comparable at an international level and reliable to provide information on skills trends, on the amount of human capital in different Countries, on the link between skills, education and labour, and on the role played by skills in enhancing employment and life opportunities in the adult population.
The survey collects crucial information for all those Countries which have been facing the challenge of competitiveness within a globalised economy, and have to structure their labour markets so as they can meet ever-changing needs, both by encouraging people to join the workforce and by tackling the issue of ageing population.
The PIAAC survey is based on recurring cycles, to be administered every ten years.
38 countries participated in the 1st Cycle of PIAAC, turning PIAAC into the most comprehensive international adult survey ever undertaken.
The Second Cycle of the PIAAC survey is currently in progress, with 34 Countries currently taking part.
Italy participated in Cycle I and is also participating in Cycle II.