Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Do Adults Have the Skills They Need to Thrive in a Changing World?, published on 10 December; and of its statement that more than one in three employees aged over 25 in England is overqualified for their current role.

The department welcomes the report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and will continue to reflect on its findings. The report offers crucial insights into how adult skills have changed since 2012, when England last participated.

These insights will support the government in the change it wants to deliver for the skills system. Last week, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, set out the ambitious milestones the government aims to reach by the end of this Parliament. Pledges include growing the economy, building an NHS fit for the future, making streets safer, opportunities for all and making Britain a clean energy superpower.

A skilled workforce is a crucial enabler to achieving these changes, which is why the department has committed to bring forward a comprehensive strategy for post-16 education and skills to help deliver the department’s Plan for Change. We are also establishing Skills England, to consider the system as a whole with greater coordination to stimulate growth. The Skills England report, which was published in September 2024, echoed similar findings to this OECD report, including the substantial impacts skills mismatches have on individuals, businesses, and the economy. The Skills England report is attached and can also be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66ffd4fce84ae1fd8592ee37/Skills_England_Report.pdf.

The department wants to develop a culture of lifelong learning, and this report shows that we can and must do more to ensure everyone has the skills they need for life.

There are few skills more important to life chances than literacy and numeracy. Whilst England has improved, the number of adults with low literacy and numeracy skills remains far too high.

This government is committing to raising literacy and numeracy levels, including through the English and mathematics Condition of Funding policy, which enables all students on 16 to 19 study programmes or T Levels who have not yet attained grade 4+ GCSE, or equivalent, in English and mathematics to access support that leads to the best outcomes for them. Further measures include the essential skills legal entitlements, providing free study funded through the Adult Skills Fund for eligible adults who do not have essential literacy and numeracy skills up to level 2.