Germany's Adults Outperform OECD Average in Skills, but Inequalities Persist

The latest PIAAC study highlights Germany's stable performance in literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving, while revealing significant gaps in skills among migrants and less-educated groups.

The PIAAC study, which assesses adult skills across 31 countries, found German adults scoring above the OECD average in literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving.
Germany's performance has remained stable since the last study in 2013, with the improved ranking attributed to the inclusion of lower-performing countries in the latest analysis.
Despite overall strong results, over 20% of German adults exhibit very low basic skills, a figure consistent with prior findings and concerning for workforce readiness.
Migrants in Germany face a significant skills gap, particularly in literacy, with disparities nearly double the OECD average, emphasizing the need for better integration and language education policies.
The study also underscores the persistent influence of social background on skills acquisition in Germany, which remains higher than in any other participating country.