The 25-34 year old age group has the highest level of third level attainment at 63%, followed by the 35-44 year old group at 58%.
Females across all age groupings (25-64 years) had higher levels of third level attainment than males.
In Q2 2022, females aged 25-64 years old with a third level qualification were more than three times more likely to be employed (84%) compared with females with a primary education or no formal education (24%).
Males aged 25-64 years old with a third level education had an employment rate of 92% compared with males with a primary education or no formal education at 52%.
In Dublin, 62% of those aged between 25-64 had a third level qualification in comparison with 46% in the Midlands.
Around 3% of people aged between 25-64 had only a primary school education or no formal education.
In 2021 Ireland was above the EU-27 average for third level attainment across all age groupings with the 25-34 year old grouping showing the largest difference at 21%.
In 2021, Ireland had a higher rate of third level education in comparison to the EU-27 average across all age groupings. The highest rate was for 25-34 year olds (62% holding a tertiary level qualification) in comparison to the EU-27 average of 41%. The largest difference in third level education levels between Ireland and the EU average are seen in the 25-34 year old grouping at 21%. See Table 1.1.
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Statistician's Comment
Commenting on the release Kevin Healy, Statistician in the Social Analysis Division, said: “This release is compiled using Labour Force Survey (LFS) Q2 2022 data and 2021 Eurostat data. This report shows that in 2021 Ireland had higher rates of third level or tertiary education in comparison to the EU-27 average, with 62% of 25-34 year olds in Ireland having a tertiary level qualification in 2021, compared with the EU-27 average of 41%.
In Q2 2022, younger age groups reported the highest levels of third level attainment, with around six in ten 25-34 and 35-45 year olds having a third level qualification (63% and 58% respectively), compared with approximately one-third (35%) of 60-64 year olds. This reflects increased levels of participation in third level education over time.
Educational Attainment and Employment
Unemployment rates for those aged 25-64 generally decreased as the level of education attained increased. In Q2 2022, females aged 25-64 with a third level qualification were more than three times more likely to be employed (84%) compared with females with a primary education or no formal education (24%). On the other hand, males aged 25-64 with a third level qualification had an employment rate of 92% compared with 52% of those with a primary education or no formal education.
Educational Attainment and Regional Differences
Overall, for those aged 25-64 years old, more than half (53%) have attained a third level education, with 29% attaining a secondary level education only, and only 3% attaining a primary level or no formal education.
Regional differences were found in educational attainment rates. Around 6% of people in the Border areas (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo) had attained primary-only or no formal education, while this figure fell to 3% for people living in the West (Galway, Mayo, Roscommon), South-West (Cork, Kerry), Midlands (Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath), and Dublin (Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin).
When it comes to secondary education, 23% of people living in Dublin had completed secondary school compared with 35% of people in the Midlands. Looking at third-level education attainment, around 62% of persons aged 25-64 in Dublin attained a third level education, while 46% in the Midland counties had.”