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Third level attainment was highest in younger age groups, with 63% of 25-34 year olds and 58% of 35-44 year olds holding a third level qualification. This compares to just 35% of 60-64 year olds with a third level qualification. This reflects increased levels of participation in third level education over time. See Figure 3.1 and Table 3.1.
Highest level of education attained | Primary or below | Lower secondary | Higher secondary | Post Leaving Certificate | Third level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
15-19 years | 21 | 56 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
20-24 years | 1 | 4 | 56 | 9 | 29 |
25-34 years | 2 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 63 |
35-44 years | 2 | 6 | 19 | 15 | 58 |
45-54 years | 3 | 10 | 18 | 16 | 53 |
55-59 years | 6 | 17 | 23 | 17 | 38 |
60-64 years | 9 | 19 | 23 | 13 | 35 |
Females across all age groupings had higher levels of third level attainment than males. Females aged 25-34 and 35-44 years with a third level qualification in Q2 2022 were 66% and 62% of females respectively. The equivalent rates for males were 60% for the 25-34 age group and 54% for the 35-44 age group. The gender gap of achieved third level qualification continues in older age groups, but is lowest (4% point difference) in the 60-64 age group. There was an 8 percentage point difference between the sexes at the 55-59 age group. See Table 3.2.
Over the last ten years, there has been an increase in the proportion of those aged 25-64 year olds with a third level education, from 40% in Q2 2012 to 53% in Q2 2022. This has been accompanied by a steady decrease in the proportion with primary education/no formal education from 10% in Q2 2012 to 3% in Q2 2022. See Figure 3.2.
Highest level of education attained | Primary or below | Lower secondary | Higher secondary | Post Leaving Certificate | Third level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 13 | 40 |
2013 | 9 | 13 | 23 | 13 | 42 |
2014 | 8 | 13 | 24 | 14 | 41 |
2015 | 8 | 12 | 24 | 13 | 43 |
2016 | 6 | 12 | 22 | 14 | 45 |
2017 | 5 | 12 | 22 | 14 | 47 |
2018 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 15 | 47 |
2019 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 15 | 47 |
2020 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 51 |
2021 | 4 | 9 | 20 | 15 | 53 |
2022 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 15 | 53 |
Irish nationals had a lower educational attainment profile than non-Irish nationals. In Q2 2022, over half of Irish nationals (52%) aged 25-64 years old had a third level qualification. Non-Irish nationals in comparison had a third level qualification rate of 61%. Analysing it further, persons from the EU14 States (excluding Ireland) and 'Other' nationalities (non EU27 nationalities) both have a third level attainment rate of 81%. The only nationality group with a lower rate of third level attainment than Irish nationals is the group of nationals from the 'EU15 to EU27' member states, with 39% of persons from those countries living in Ireland having a third level qualification. See Figure 3.3 and Table 3.3.
Highest level of education attained | Primary or below | Lower secondary | Higher secondary | Post Leaving Certificate | Third level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish | 4 | 10 | 19 | 15 | 52 |
United Kingdom | 5 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 53 |
EU14_2021 excl. IRL | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 81 |
EU15 to EU27_2021 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 18 | 39 |
Other | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 81 |
In Dublin, over three in five persons (62%) aged 25-64 years old had a third level qualification in Q2 2022 - this compares to 46% of persons aged 25-64 years old in the Midland region that have a third level qualification.
In the Border region, 6% of persons aged 25-64 had a primary level education or no formal education in Q2 2022, while only 3% of persons had a primary level education or below in the West, South West, Midland and Dublin regions. See Maps 3.1, 3.2 and Table 3.4.
In Q2 2022, 94% of those aged 20-24 years old had attained at least a higher secondary level of education in Ireland. In Q2 2022, Females aged 20-24 years old were more likely than males to have attained at least a higher secondary level education (97% versus 92% respectively). See Figure 3.4 and Table 3.5.
Male | Female | Total | |
2002 | 80 | 89 | 84 |
2003 | 82 | 89 | 86 |
2004 | 82 | 89 | 86 |
2005 | 83 | 90 | 87 |
2006 | 81 | 90 | 86 |
2007 | 84 | 91 | 87 |
2008 | 84 | 92 | 88 |
2009 | 85 | 92 | 89 |
2010 | 86 | 93 | 90 |
2011 | 87 | 92 | 90 |
2012 | 87 | 92 | 90 |
2013 | 89 | 94 | 92 |
2014 | 92 | 95 | 93 |
2015 | 92 | 95 | 94 |
2016 | 92 | 96 | 94 |
2017 | 93 | 96 | 94 |
2018 | 93 | 96 | 95 |
2019 | 93 | 95 | 94 |
2020 | 95 | 94 | 94 |
2021 | 96 | 98 | 97 |
2022 | 92 | 97 | 94 |
The proportion of the 30-34 age group with a third level qualification has steadily increased in recent years. In Q2 2022, 64% of persons aged 30-34 years old had a third level qualification. In Q2 2002, the equivalent figure was 32%.
From 2003, a gap between the sexes has been consistently seen and this continues to Q2 2022 where 65% of females hold a third level qualification compared to 62% of males. See Figure 3.5 and Table 3.6.
Male | Female | Total | |
2002 | 31 | 34 | 32 |
2003 | 36 | 35 | 35 |
2004 | 37 | 41 | 39 |
2005 | 38 | 43 | 40 |
2006 | 36 | 46 | 41 |
2007 | 38 | 49 | 43 |
2008 | 41 | 53 | 47 |
2009 | 44 | 56 | 50 |
2010 | 46 | 57 | 51 |
2011 | 45 | 57 | 51 |
2012 | 46 | 59 | 53 |
2013 | 47 | 59 | 53 |
2014 | 46 | 62 | 54 |
2015 | 45 | 61 | 53 |
2016 | 47 | 60 | 54 |
2017 | 48 | 63 | 55 |
2018 | 53 | 60 | 57 |
2019 | 50 | 60 | 55 |
2020 | 58 | 63 | 60 |
2021 | 57 | 66 | 61 |
2022 | 62 | 65 | 64 |
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