- In an economically uncertain world, countries must balance the need for austerity with the need to invest in building a high-quality workforce.
- There is only a weak relationship between spending per student and tertiary attainment rates – the same level of spending can produce very different outcomes in different countries.
- The amount of time students spend getting their qualification varies widely across OECD countries but more time spent in education does not produce a better-qualified workforce.
- The risk of an over-educated population seems small: higher participation rates do not lead to higher graduate unemployment. Rather, the widening employment gap between the most and the least educated suggests countries should continue to aim for a highly-qualified young workforce.
