While Finnish pupils' Pisa (Program for International Student Assessment) scores may be on the decline, adults' skills are on the rise.
Finnish adults possess the highest literacy and numeracy skills among rich countries, according to a new ranking published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Monday.
Finland ranked first in literacy, with Japan taking second place and Sweden third. In numeracy, Finland also claimed the top position, followed again by Japan and Sweden. For problem-solving skills, Finland shared the number one spot with Japan.
The Survey of Adult Skills measured adults' proficiency in literacy, numeracy and the ability to solve problems. The study covered 31 countries, with the last assessment of adult skills conducted over a decade ago.
The results, from the 2023 survey, showed an average Finnish score of 296, well above the 260-point average across 31 countries, and exceeding Finland's score of 288 points in 2013.
Lifelong learning
OECD director Stefano Scarpetta emphasised that in Finland, skills improved across all skill and education levels over the past decade.
"This is unique compared to other countries' results," he said.
Scarpetta drew attention to people born between 1989 and 1996, whose 30-point increase he considers significant and statistically meaningful.
This indicates, according to Scarpetta, that people in Finland continue developing and learning new skills after entering the workforce.
"While the results certainly reflect the education system, they also show that people have the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge as adults. The entire population, regardless of their educational background, can pursue further education, which we believe is of great importance," he explained.
Unsurprisingly, people's educational level was strongly linked to skill levels, as in many other countries.
There were no notable gender differences in average skill levels in Finland. However, variations emerged in how different age groups performed. Overall, the information processing skills of adults in Finland improved up to about the age of 40. People aged 20 to 29 had the highest skill levels across all categories, while the lowest were observed among those aged 60 to 65.
In Finland, nine out of ten adults between 16 and 65 said they were satisfied with their lives — the highest share score among all the participating countries.
The 2023 Survey of Adult Skills evaluated adults in three key areas: literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem-solving — skills essential for navigating society. Participants were tasked with completing a series of exercises designed to reflect how these skills are applied in various real-life situations.
A total of 4,061 adults in Finland participated in the survey, reflecting an overall response rate of 34 percent. Researchers gathered the data through a personal interview and a self-completed assessment.
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