The Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC)
This international survey is conducted in over 40 countries as part of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). It measures the key cognitive and workplace skills needed for individuals to participate in society and for economies to prosper. The evidence from the Survey has helped countries better understand how education and training systems can nurture these skills.
The Survey is administred every 10 years and has had two cycles so far. In the First Cycle, there were three rounds of data collection, between 2011-2018. In 2018, the Second Cycle of the Survey has begun, with results for this cycle to be published in 2024.
The Survey is implemented by:
- interviewing adults aged 16 to 65 in their homes – 5 000 individuals in each participating country
- answering questions via computer, although the Survey can also be implemented via pencil-and-paper
- assessing literacy and numeracy skills and the ability to solve problems in technology-rich environments
- collecting a broad range of information, including how skills are used at work and in other contexts, such as the home and the community.
The Survey is designed:
- to be valid cross-culturally and internationally
- for countries to be able to administer the survey in their national languages and still obtain comparable results
- to provide comparative analysis of skill-formation systems and their outcomes, and international benchmarking regarding adult skills
- as a survey that will be repeated over time to allow policy makers to monitor the development of key aspects of human capital in their countries.
PIAAC Participating Countries
PIAAC 1st Cycle
Round 1 (2011-2012)
Australia, Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (England and Northern Ireland), United States
Round 2 (2014-2015)
Chile, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Lithuania, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, Türkiye
Round 3 (2017)
Ecuador, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Peru, United States
PIAAC 2nd Cycle
Round 1 (2022-2023)
Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (England), United States.
A new round of data collection during the Second Cycle is planned to be implemented in 2024-2029. More information is available in our brochure in English, French or Spanish.
Using Data from the Survey for Policy Decision-Making
Data from the Survey of Adult Skills allows investigation of the links between key information-processing skills and a range of variables, constituting a rich evidence base for policy-relevant analysis. In particular, data from this Survey facilitates a better understanding of:
- Performance of education and training systems
- The extent and dimensions of illiteracy and poor literacy
- Gaps between labour markets and education and training
- Equity levels in access to education and intergenerational mobility
- Young people’s transition from education to work
- Identification of at-risk populations
- Links between key cognitive skills and variables, such as demographics, educational background, health, etc.
Presentation on "Why Skills Matter"