England Leads Developed Nations in Overqualified Workforce, OECD Finds

A new OECD report reveals 37% of English workers are overqualified for their jobs, the highest rate among surveyed countries.

The OECD's Survey of Adult Skills found that 37% of workers in England are overqualified for their roles, significantly higher than the OECD average of 23%.
Overqualified workers in England earn approximately 18% less than peers in well-matched positions with similar educational backgrounds.
The report highlights a decline in skill levels among university graduates in England, suggesting the higher education system may be overextended.
Around 20% of adults in England scored at the lowest levels in literacy and numeracy, despite slight improvements compared to OECD averages.
The study calls for stronger alternative education pathways and lifelong learning initiatives to address skill mismatches and improve workforce opportunities.