Goal 4: 4. Main Eurostat Indicators

Key trends in quality education in the European Union show the following evidence (Eurostat Report, pp. 97 and ss):

• Participation in early childhood education has reached the ET 2020 benchmark;
• Early leaving from education and training has reduced significantly since 2002, but progress has stagnated over the past few years;
• Despite improved participation rates, education outcomes in reading, maths and science have deteriorated;
• Young women stay longer in education and training and show better reading skills;
• Young people with disabilities or from a migrant background show significantly lower educational attainment;
• Early leavers and low-educated young people face particularly severe problems in the labour market;
• The share of the population with tertiary education has reached the ET 2020 benchmark;
• Employment rates rise with educational attainment;
• Women achieve higher tertiary education attainment rates, but male graduates are more likely to find employment;
• Foreign-born residents achieve lower tertiary attainment rates and lower recent graduate employment rates;
• Adult participation in learning remains far from the target set for 2020;
• Women are more likely to participate in adult learning.

Goal 4’s attainment is monitored through the following main indicators: Source: EU SDG Indicator set 2020: