In recent decades, skills policies across OECD countries have focused primarily on expanding the supply of skills. Governments have made substantial investments in education, training and lifelong learning, improving access and attainment for millions of adults. These efforts have strengthened the foundation of human capital that underpins modern economies. However, developing skills is only part of the story. Evidence shows that economic and social returns depend not only on what people know, but also on how effectively their skills are put to use at work. In many countries, workers have limited opportunities to apply their skills on the job. This gap between potential and effective skills use represents a missed opportunity for individuals, firms and economies alike. When skills are not fully utilised, productivity and innovation suffer, job satisfaction declines and the benefits of training investments diminish.
This report draws on the latest cycle of the OECD Survey of Adult Skills to examine how the use of skills has evolved over the past decade and which skills are most frequently deployed in today’s workplaces. It highlights cross-country patterns and differences, and analyses how skills use relates to wages, productivity and workers’ well-being. The report also explores how individual and job characteristics – such as gender, educational attainment and occupation – shape skills use, identifying the groups and sectors where talent remains underutilised.
This PIAAC thematic report has been prepared as part of the work programme of the Board of Participating Countries (BPC) of the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The BPC provides strategic oversight and guidance for the development and use of the Survey of Adult Skills. The Survey of Adult Skills assesses adults’ proficiency in key information processing skills – literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem solving – and collects a wide range of information on how adults use their skills at work and in everyday life. By enabling cross-country comparisons and in-depth policy analysis, the survey helps countries to better understand how skills are developed, maintained and used over the life course.
The report was prepared by Michele Tuccio from the Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, under the supervision of Glenda Quintini (Head of the Skills and Future Readiness Division). Valuable comments were received by Stefano Scarpetta (Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs), as well as Andreas Schleicher and Anja Meierkord (Directorate for Education and Skills). Feedback and comments on this report by members of the BPC are also gratefully acknowledged.