INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS

Due to differences in the way that qualifications are classified internationally, there is currently no OECD indicator that can be directly compared with the headline progress indicator of people aged 25-64 years with a vocational or higher education qualification. However, one important OECD indicator that can be compared internationally is the proportion of 25-64 year olds with a tertiary education.

In 2007, the OECD reported that 34% of Australians aged 25-64 years had a tertiary education, ranking it the seventh highest (equal with Norway) amongst the 30 OECD member countries, and six percentage points above the OECD average (28%).

There was a wide variation in the proportion of 25-64 year olds who had at least one tertiary qualification - ranging from 11% in Turkey to 48% in Canada.