The OECD has just published a new Working Paper, Career Ready? How schools can better prepare young people for working life in the era of Covid-19. 

The paper reviews academic literature that analyses national longitudinal datasets and provides evidence of teenage career-related indicators of better than expected adult employment outcomes.  It then analyses PISA2018 data to see how countries compare and the variations that exist in the career preparation and readiness of young people by social characteristics.   The review draws on Arjan Apparadui’s conception of the Capacity to Aspire, and views indicators as evidence of young people’s access to the resources that allow them to demonstrate critical agency through their transitions.

The paper is limited in that the current academic literature is overwhelmingly from the US, UK and Australia.  In a new project, the OECD is looking to broaden the evidence base and create new data-driven tools for policy makers and practitioners. 

The Career Readiness in the Pandemic project launches with a webinar with Andreas Schleicher, Jennifer Mckenzie (National Centre for Guidance in Education, Ireland) and Anthony Mann on December 18 at 2 pm CET: https://oecdedutoday.com/oecd-education-webinars/#Upcoming

Over the next twelve months, the OECD will:

·       Publish two further working papers exploring longitudinal evidence from OECD and national longitudinal datasets across a wide range of countries

·       Publish eight guides for practice drawing out practical insights from the research

·       Create a new online repository of key research and practice examples

·       Hold an online conference in the autumn of 2021

·       Create data-driven tools for policy makers and practitioners to enhance provision

To support the work, an informal stakeholder group is being created.  Members will be notified of project developments, invited to share both examples of practice that aligns with the data-driven approach and thoughts on the further development of the project, should funding allow.  To join the project mailing list, please email Anthony.mann@oecd.org.