Higher Education Outcomes by Field of Study: Completion and Employment Rates, OECD 2025
Field outcomes differ across the path from programme entry to graduation and employment. OECD completion data follow full-time bachelor’s entrants through the theoretical programme duration and three additional years, while employment data describe tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64. The measures are related but do not use the same population or reference period.
Outcome Snapshot
OECD averages use the country coverage available for each indicator.
Bachelor’s Completion by Entry Field
Completion at any tertiary level by the theoretical programme duration plus three years.
OECD average completion rate across selected fields
Full-time bachelor’s entrants; 2023 reference year
Health and welfare leads STEM by 11.8 percentage points. The arts and social fields group sits between them.
Chart analysis
- Health and welfare: 79.7% completed a tertiary programme by N+3.
- Arts and social fields: 71.0% completed by N+3.
- STEM: 67.9% completed by N+3.
- The gap between health and welfare and STEM is 11.8 percentage points.
- These rates follow entry cohorts and do not measure employment after graduation.
Completion Rates by Field and Education System
Systems are ordered by the reported health and welfare completion rate. The ranking applies only to that column and the available source coverage.
| Rank | Education system | Arts and social fields | Health and welfare | STEM | Health–STEM gap | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Türkiye | 83.9% | 95.6% | 84.2% | +11.5 pp | 2023 |
| 2 | Israel | 81.3% | 91.7% | 78.1% | +13.6 pp | 2023 |
| 3 | Spain | 71.6% | 88.2% | 66.6% | +21.7 pp | 2023 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 80.2% | 87.1% | 80.7% | +6.3 pp | 2023 |
| 5 | Canada | 76.2% | 87.0% | 83.0% | +4.0 pp | 2023 |
| 6 | Finland | 79.0% | 85.5% | 65.6% | +19.9 pp | 2023 |
| 7 | Norway | 71.0% | 85.4% | 73.8% | +11.6 pp | 2023 |
| 8 | Portugal | 75.1% | 84.5% | 68.3% | +16.3 pp | 2023 |
| 9 | Ireland | 77.6% | 84.2% | 69.5% | +14.7 pp | 2023 |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 85.5% | 83.3% | 82.0% | +1.3 pp | 2023 |
| 11 | Sweden | 59.1% | 81.2% | 58.7% | +22.5 pp | 2023 |
| 12 | Poland | 65.4% | 80.2% | 70.8% | +9.4 pp | 2023 |
| 13 | Estonia | 65.7% | 77.1% | 60.2% | +16.9 pp | 2023 |
| 14 | Slovenia | 62.9% | 77.0% | 62.7% | +14.3 pp | 2023 |
| 15 | Austria | 57.2% | 76.8% | 54.7% | +22.2 pp | 2023 |
| 16 | Iceland | 71.3% | 76.1% | 76.2% | -0.1 pp | 2023 |
| 17 | New Zealand | 75.0% | 75.7% | 78.7% | -3.0 pp | 2023 |
| 18 | Netherlands | 77.5% | 75.7% | 71.3% | +4.4 pp | 2023 |
| 19 | Lithuania | 66.0% | 73.4% | 61.2% | +12.2 pp | 2023 |
| 20 | Romania | 62.2% | 72.6% | 66.1% | +6.5 pp | 2023 |
| 21 | Hungary | 74.6% | 72.2% | 66.8% | +5.4 pp | 2023 |
| 22 | Flemish Comm. (Belgium) | 68.1% | 72.0% | 71.2% | +0.8 pp | 2023 |
| 23 | Denmark | 70.2% | 71.6% | 64.0% | +7.6 pp | 2023 |
| 24 | Chile | 61.0% | 70.4% | 49.2% | +21.2 pp | 2023 |
| 25 | Australia | 64.8% | 69.7% | 68.0% | +1.7 pp | 2023 |
| 26 | French Comm. (Belgium) | 51.4% | 54.7% | 47.4% | +7.4 pp | 2023 |
| 27 | Brazil | 54.9% | 50.2% | 46.2% | +4.0 pp | 2023 |
| 28 | Peru | 45.7% | 35.3% | 39.4% | -4.1 pp | 2023 |
| 29 | Luxembourg | 63.0% | Not reported | 43.7% | Not reported | 2023 |
Table analysis
- The table contains 29 education systems with a reported value in at least one selected field.
- Türkiye records the highest reported health and welfare completion rate at 95.6%.
- United Kingdom records the highest arts and social fields rate at 85.5%.
- Türkiye also records the highest reported STEM completion rate at 84.2%, followed by Canada at 83.0%.
- The widest positive health–STEM gaps are in Sweden (+22.5 pp), Austria (+22.2 pp), Spain (+21.7 pp), and Chile (+21.2 pp).
- STEM exceeds health and welfare in Peru (-4.1 pp) and New Zealand (-3.0 pp); Iceland is nearly even (-0.1 pp).
- Luxembourg reports arts and STEM completion but no health and welfare value in Table B5.3.
- Values are OECD true-cohort completion rates, not the percentage of the adult population holding a degree.
Time Allowed Changes the Completion Measure
The same bachelor’s entry cohort produces different completion rates at the theoretical end, one year later, and three years later.
Bachelor’s completion timeline
Completion at any tertiary level; OECD average
The first additional year adds 16.2 percentage points; the following two years add another 10.7 points.
| Observation point | Completion rate | Change from prior point | Reference year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theoretical programme duration | 43.1% | Baseline | 2020 observation point |
| Theoretical duration plus one year | 59.4% | +16.2 pp | 2021 observation point |
| Theoretical duration plus three years | 70.0% | +10.7 pp | 2023 observation point |
Trend analysis
- Only 43.1% complete by the theoretical programme end.
- The rate reaches 59.4% after one additional year.
- By N+3, completion reaches 70.0%.
- The gain after the first extra year is larger than the gain across the next two years.
- The reference points describe elapsed time for the same cohort design, not three independent graduating classes.
Completion in the Original Field and Switching
The OECD separates completion in the starting field from graduation after changing field or tertiary level.
Graduation status within three additional years
OECD averages across selected bachelor’s entry fields
The component averages should not be added to reconstruct the total rate because country coverage and OECD averaging can differ across columns.
| Entry field | Completed any tertiary programme | Same field | Different field, same level | Different tertiary level | Reference year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and welfare | 79.7% | 73.8% | 4.5% | 1.8% | 2023 |
| Arts, humanities, social sciences, journalism and information | 71.0% | 60.6% | 9.1% | 1.8% | 2023 |
| STEM | 67.9% | 57.8% | 9.0% | 2.0% | 2023 |
Table analysis
- 73.8% of health and welfare entrants complete a bachelor’s programme in the same field.
- The same-field rate falls to 60.6% in arts and social fields and 57.8% in STEM.
- Same-level field switching is about 9% in both STEM and arts and social fields, compared with 4.5% in health and welfare.
- Completion at another tertiary level is close to 2% in all three groups.
- Field switching is a completed pathway and should not be counted as leaving higher education without a qualification.
Employment Rates by Field of Qualification
Employment rates refer to employed adults as a share of all tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 in each field.
OECD average employment rates across reported fields
Broad fields and selected STEM subfields; 2024 reference year
ICT has the highest reported field rate at 90.1%; arts and social fields record 84.1%.
| Rank | Field | Field level | Employment rate | Population | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Information and communication technologies (ICT) | Subfield | 90.1% | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | 2024 |
| 2 | Engineering, manufacturing and construction | Subfield | 88.8% | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | 2024 |
| 3 | STEM total | Broad field | 88.2% | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | 2024 |
| 4 | Health and welfare | Broad field | 88.0% | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | 2024 |
| 5 | Business, administration and law | Broad field | 87.1% | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | 2024 |
| 6 | Education | Broad field | 86.8% | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | 2024 |
| 7 | Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics | Subfield | 85.7% | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | 2024 |
| 8 | Arts, humanities, social sciences, journalism and information | Broad field | 84.1% | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | 2024 |
Employment analysis
- ICT: 90.1%, the highest reported field rate.
- Engineering, manufacturing and construction: 88.8%.
- STEM total: 88.2%, while natural sciences, mathematics and statistics records 85.7%.
- Health and welfare: 88.0%.
- Arts and social fields: 84.1%, six percentage points below ICT.
- The field spread is narrower than the completion gaps across several education systems.
- Employment includes part-time and full-time work and does not identify whether the job matches the field of qualification.
Numeracy Proficiency and Employment Within Fields
PIAAC data separate tertiary-educated adults by numeracy proficiency level.
Employment rate by field and numeracy level
Adults aged 25–64; OECD average, 2023
Employment rises with higher numeracy proficiency in every reported field aggregate.
| Field | Level 0/1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4/5 | Low-to-high gap | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | 79.6% | 84.2% | 88.9% | 94.2% | +14.6 pp | 2023 |
| Arts, humanities, social sciences, journalism and information | 76.9% | 85.2% | 87.6% | 90.2% | +13.3 pp | 2023 |
| Business, administration and law | 78.7% | 85.2% | 88.8% | 92.4% | +13.7 pp | 2023 |
| STEM | 80.7% | 86.2% | 91.0% | 93.1% | +12.5 pp | 2023 |
| Health and welfare | 79.8% | 87.1% | 89.5% | 92.8% | +13.1 pp | 2023 |
Skills analysis
- At numeracy Level 0/1, employment ranges from 76.9% in arts and social fields to 80.7% in STEM.
- At Level 4/5, the range narrows to 90.2%–94.2%.
- Education records the largest low-to-high proficiency gap at 14.6 percentage points.
- Arts and social fields records a 13.3-point gap; business records 13.7 points.
- STEM records a 12.5-point gap and health and welfare records 13.1 points.
- The table describes association within reported groups and does not establish that a change in numeracy alone produces the employment difference.
Gender Difference in Bachelor’s Completion
The reported gender comparison covers all bachelor’s entry fields combined.
Completion by gender and observation point
OECD average; full-time bachelor’s entrants
Women lead men by 11 percentage points on time and 12 points at N+3.
| Observation point | Women | Men | Gender gap | Reference year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theoretical programme duration | 48% | 37% | 11 pp | 2020 observation point |
| Theoretical duration plus three years | 75% | 63% | 12 pp | 2023 observation point |
Completion analysis
- Women record a higher bachelor’s completion rate at both observation points.
- The gap does not disappear when the observation window extends to N+3.
- The field-specific table also reports that women account for about 30% of new STEM entrants.
- The gender totals do not reveal whether the gap is the same within every field or country.
Reported Completion Movement Between 2020 and 2023
The OECD reports limited two-point comparisons rather than a long field-by-field historical series.
| System | Measure | 2020 | 2023 | Change | Value status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Completion by theoretical duration | About 31.9% | 47.9% | About +16 pp | 2020 value derived from the OECD’s rounded change statement |
| Italy | Completion by theoretical duration | 21% | 37.2% | +16.2 pp | Published country note and Table B5.1 |
| Canada | Completion by N+3 | About 68.2% | 80.2% | About +12 pp | 2020 value derived from the OECD’s rounded change statement |
Trend analysis
- The OECD states that most reporting systems changed little between the two completion observations.
- Australia and Italy were the reported exceptions for on-time completion, each rising by about 16 percentage points.
- Canada was the reported exception at N+3, rising by 12 percentage points.
- The Australia and Canada 2020 values are page-level derivations from rounded OECD change statements and should be read as approximate.
- The comparison is not a historical series by field of study.
How the Outcome Measures Fit Together
Each measure answers a different question about the education-to-work path.
Completion is cohort-based
The completion rate follows students who entered a programme. It changes when more time is allowed and can include graduation at another tertiary level.
Employment is population-based
The employment rate covers tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64. It is not a new-graduate placement rate and does not require work in the qualification field.
STEM contains unlike subfields
ICT employment is 90.1%, engineering is 88.8%, and natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is 85.7%. A single STEM total hides this spread.
Switching changes interpretation
About 9% of STEM and arts entrants complete a bachelor’s programme in another field. That pathway differs from leaving tertiary education without a qualification.
Country patterns vary
Health completion exceeds STEM by more than 20 points in several systems, while STEM is higher in New Zealand and Peru.
Skills remain visible within fields
Higher numeracy groups record higher employment in every reported field aggregate. The field gap narrows among adults at Levels 4 and 5.
| Indicator | Population | Observation period | What it records | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s completion | Full-time entrants to bachelor’s programmes | Theoretical duration, N+1, or N+3 | Graduation at the entered level or any tertiary level, depending on the column | Entry cohorts differ by programme duration and national data systems |
| Same-field completion | Full-time bachelor’s entrants in selected fields | N+3 | Bachelor’s graduation in the original broad field | Broad fields combine many programmes |
| Employment rate | Tertiary-educated adults aged 25–64 | Survey or labour-force reference year | Employed people as a share of the relevant population | Hours, contract type, pay, and field match are not captured by the rate |
| Numeracy-linked employment | PIAAC participants aged 25–64 with tertiary education | 2023 adult skills cycle | Employment by field and proficiency level | Association does not establish a causal effect |
| Percentage-point gap | Depends on the compared indicators | Same reference basis required | Direct subtraction between two percentage rates | It is not a percent change |
Indicator analysis
- Completion and employment cannot be multiplied into a student-level probability because they use different populations.
- A field with lower completion can still have a high employment rate among adults who hold the qualification.
- Employment does not identify job quality, earnings, permanence, working hours, or degree-to-job match.
- Country comparison requires attention to programme length, field composition, entry selection, and source coverage.
Source and Methodology
OECD averages can use different country sets across columns. Component averages for same-field completion, field switching, and completion at another tertiary level may therefore differ slightly from the published total when added together. The 2020 values shown for Australia and Canada are page-level calculations obtained by subtracting the OECD’s rounded reported change from the 2023 table value.
Completion rates, employment rates, and numeracy-linked employment rates describe different populations and periods. They support comparison of reported patterns but do not rank the personal value of a degree, predict an individual outcome, measure job quality, or establish that field choice or numeracy proficiency caused an employment result.