Data collection for the international survey of adult competencies (PIAAC) will be started

Finland will take part in the OECD's international survey of adult competencies. The survey will assess the various basic skills needed by the adult population in different walks of life, as well as their application to work and everyday living. Twenty-five countries will take part in the survey.

The PIAAC survey studies literacy, numeracy and various problem-solving skills among the adult population. Data will be collected from persons aged 16 to 65 - from employed, unemployed, retired, stay-at-home, and students. At the same time, new information will be obtained on education among Finns, their activities as citizens and in the working life, and the way in which these factors affect their social and economic well-being.

Based on the results, adult skills and competencies can be developed in various ways. The survey results can be utilised by Finnish educators, decision-makers and researchers. The results will constitute a knowledge base for the planning of future educational and employment policies.

Statistics Finland will initiate the data collection at the beginning of September 2011. The data collection will be completed in spring 2012. The aim is to interview 5,000 Finnish-speakers and 300 Swedish-speakers. All answers will be handled confidentially and it will not be possible to identify individual respondents from the results. The initial results of the survey will be published in 2013.

The PIAAC survey is financed by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. The survey will be implemented through co-operation between the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä and Statistics Finland.

The abbreviation PIAAC stands for the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.

Further information:
Antero Malin, Professor, Finnish Institute for Educational Research at the University of Jyväskylä, tel. +358 50 411 6551
Marko Ylitalo, Researcher, Statistics Finland, tel. +358 9 1734 3560 (data collection)
Petri Haltia, Counsellor of Education, Ministry of Education and Culture,
tel. +358 9 1607 7457
Varpu Weijola, Chief Counsellor, Ministry of Employment and the Economy,
tel. +358 10 6048029
Reijo Laukkanen, Counsellor of Education, Finnish National Board of Education,
tel. +358 40 348 7943

Appendix: Number of interviewees by region and municipality (pdf, 1 kb, 3 p.)