Jan Heisig|Heike Solga
Secondary Education Systems and the General Skills of Less- and Intermediate-educated Adults
WZB Berlin Social Science Center|WZB Berlin Social Science Center|Freie Universität Berlin
investigate impact external differentiation vocational orientation lower upper secondary education country variation mean numeracy skills skills gaps adults low intermediate formal qualifications use data 30 44yearolds 18 countries 201112 round program international assessment adult competencies find higher levels external differentiation tracking amplify skills gaps less intermediateeducated adults mainly due lower mean skills achievement lesseducated adults contrast greater emphasis vocational skills uppersecondary education positively related numeracy skills less intermediateeducated adults gains larger less educated gap numeracy skills tends fall degree vocational orientation discuss implications findings research educational labor market inequalities