The 25-34-year-old age group has the highest level of third level attainment at 61%, followed by the 35-44-year-old group at 60%.
In Q2 2023, females aged 25-64 years old with a third level qualification were nearly three times more likely to be employed (85%) compared with females with a primary education or no formal education (30%).
Females across all age groupings (25-64 years) had higher levels of third level attainment than males.
Males aged 25-64 years old with a third level education had an employment rate of 92% compared with males with a primary education only or no formal education at 49%.
In Dublin, 62% of those aged between 25-64 had a third level qualification compared with 45% in the South-East.
Around 3% of people aged between 25-64 had only a primary school education or no formal education.
In 2022 Ireland was well above the EU-27 average for third level attainment across all age groupings (20% difference in each), except for the 55-64 year old grouping showing a difference of 12%.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (13 December 2023) released the Educational Attainment Thematic Report 2023.
Commenting on the release Kevin Healy, Statistician in the Social Analysis Division, said: “This release is compiled using Labour Force Survey (LFS) Q2 2023 data and 2022 Eurostat data. This report shows that in 2022 Ireland had higher rates of third level or tertiary education in comparison to the EU-27 average. In Ireland, 62% of 25-34-year-olds had a tertiary level qualification in 2022 compared with the EU-27 average of 42%.
Overall, for those aged 25-64 years old in Q2 2023, more than half (54%) have attained a third level education, with 28% attaining a secondary level education only, and only 3% attaining a primary level or no formal education.
In Q2 2023, 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 (61% and 60% 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 2023, females aged 25-64 with a third level qualification were nearly three times more likely to be employed (85%) compared with females with a primary education or no formal education (30%). On the other hand, males aged 25-64 with a third level qualification had an employment rate of 92% compared with 49% of those with a primary education or no formal education.
Educational Attainment and Regional Differences
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 South-West (Cork, Kerry), Midland (Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath), Mid-East (Wicklow,Kildare,Meath,Louth) and Dublin (Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin).
When it comes to secondary education, 25% of people living in Dublin had attained secondary level education only, compared with 36% of people in the Midland. Looking at third-level education attainment, around 62% of persons aged 25-64 in Dublin attained a third level education, while in the South-East counties 45% of people had done so.”