IT
First Results of the OECD-PIAAC Survey of Adult Skills, Cycle 2, Released Today
COGNITIVE SKILLS IN ADULTS: ITALY SHOWS NO IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST DECADE, REMAINING BELOW THE OECD AVERAGE, WITH TERRITORIAL GAPS AS A NEGATIVE FACTOR
Rome, 10 December 2024 – The cognitive skills of adults in Italy have remained stable between 2012 and 2023, mirroring trends in other countries. However, this stability in Italy reflects a persistent gap compared to the OECD average.
These findings are from the Survey of Adult Skills, conducted under the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The second cycle of the survey was carried out in 2023 across 31 countries and economies worldwide. In Italy, the survey was conducted by INAPP on behalf of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.
The skills measured in the survey are essential for individuals to navigate daily life and participate fully in the economy and society. They include reading and understanding written texts (literacy), the ability to comprehend and use mathematical and numerical information (numeracy), and the ability to solve problems in dynamic situations where solutions are not immediately evident (adaptive problem solving).
Italy’s results are negatively influenced by significant internal disparities related to geography, age, educational attainment, and gender. Residents in the North and Centre of Italy often achieve skill levels comparable to the OECD average, while those in the South score significantly lower than both the Italian and OECD averages. Adults aged 55–65 exhibit the lowest levels of competence, in contrast to the younger 16–24 age group. Individuals with lower secondary education or less score significantly lower than those who have pursued tertiary education. Additionally, in numeracy, women continue to lag behind men.
The PIAAC survey provides a clear framework for identifying areas where Italy must act to improve the skill levels of its adult population.
Natale Forlani, President of INAPP, commented:
“The strong link between cognitive skills and a country’s development is evident. The lowest skill levels are concentrated in the country’s less attractive areas. Investments must focus on revitalising the South of Italy.”
Detailed Findings
The cognitive skills assessed in the PIAAC survey are expressed as scores ranging from 0 to 500.
In literacy skills Italian adults scored an average of 245 points, compared to the OECD average of 260. Countries scoring lower than Italy in this domain include Israel, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and Chile.
In numeracy skills the average score for Italian adults was 244 points, versus the OECD average of 263. Italy ranks fourth from the bottom, followed only by Poland, Portugal, and Chile.
In adaptive problem solving skills Italy scored an average of 231 points, compared to the OECD average of 251. Only Lithuania, Poland, and Chile scored lower in this domain.
In literacy, adults from the Northwest, Northeast, and Centre of Italy achieved average scores statistically comparable to the OECD average. The Northeast also matched the OECD average in numeracy. However, results from Southern regions significantly pull down Italy’s overall performance.
One promising result for Italy is the skill level of its younger population, a crucial resource in a country with one of the highest ageing rates globally. Italians aged 16–24 outperform the rest of the population and, in numeracy, even surpass young adults aged 25–34. However, the skill gap between the youngest group (16–24) and the oldest (55–65) is significant across all domains, highlighting a substantial decline in skills with age, albeit from a solid starting point.
The fundamental role of education in skill development is confirmed. In Italy, as in other countries, adults aged 25–65 with tertiary education scored higher in all domains compared to those with secondary or lower secondary education. Nevertheless, only 20% of Italians aged 25–65 hold a tertiary qualification, while around 38% have not completed secondary education.
Gender differences remain evident, particularly in numeracy, where men consistently outperform women. However, no gender gap is observed in literacy and adaptive problem solving. Notably, the numeracy gap widens among tertiary-educated individuals but disappears among those with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) degrees. The low proportion of women in STEM fields, driven by cultural stereotypes, hinders gender equality in numeracy and limits the country’s overall skill development.
Further Information
The OECD’s first publication of results from the second cycle of the Survey of Adult Skills was released today, Tuesday, 10 December 2024. The report, Do Adults Have the Skills They Need to Thrive in a Changing World? Survey of Adult Skills 2023, provides an overview of adult skills across 31 participating countries, highlighting significant variability and the influence of various factors on skill acquisition and retention, as well as the economic and social returns on human capital investment.
To complement the OECD report, INAPP has published the short report Cognitive Skills of Adults in Italy: Initial Evidence from the OECD-PIAAC Survey, Cycle 2, offering insights into the Italian context and regional disparities. A detailed national report, PIAAC – Cycle 2: Cognitive Skills in Italy in the International Context. Determinants, Levels, and Social and Economic Returns, will be published soon.
For more information:
Presidency – tel.0685447700 [email protected]
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