As the world celebrates the achievements of women this month, what can be said about the progress of girls and young women in education, and of women in employment, throughout the world? As the third issue of the OECD's new brief series Education Indicators in Focus describes, girls and women...

<ul> <li>More than 23 million students across the OECD and G20 countries will start their first universitylevel course in 2013. </LI> <LI>The new generation of students will be particularly diverse, with more adults and international students than ever. </LI> <LI>Entry rates have increased over the last decades but...</li></li></li></ul>

<ul> <li>The aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis has meant a significant number of countries have cut public spending on education. Despite GDP rising in most OECD countries between 2009 and 2010, public expenditure on educational institutions fell in one-third of them. </li> <li>Teachers’ salaries were...</li></ul>

<ul> <li>More than one-third of male primary school teachers in OECD countries are now over 50 years old. </li> <li>Across OECD countries, the average age of secondary school teachers has increased by one month every year in the last decade. </li> <li>Only a few countries have managed to develop policies which lower the...</li></ul>

At a time when having more education is increasingly necessary for success in the labour market, how is the talent pool of young higher education graduates changing around the world? According to the OECD’s latest analysis, not only has it exploded over the last decade – it’s likely to...

<UL> <LI>An upper secondary qualification (ISCED 3) has become the norm for young people in OECD countries. Today it is considered the minimum qualification for successful participation in the labour market and for integration in society.</LI> <LI>In 2010, across OECD countries, 19.1% of 25-34 year-olds without...</li></li></ul>

<UL> <LI>In many OECD countries, ECEC services have increased in response to a growing demand for better learning outcomes as well as growing female labour force participation. In recent years, however, the goals of ECEC policy have become more child-centred. </LI> <LI>Fifteen-year-old students who attended...</li></li></ul>

<ul> <li> Teachers’ salaries increased in real terms between 2000 and 2011 in virtually all OECD countries, but mostly remain below those of other tertiary-educated workers. </li> <li>Statutory salaries for lower secondary school teachers with 15 years of experience are 35% higher than starting salaries in...</li></ul>

Over the past three decades, the income gap between the rich and the poor has widened across most OECD countries. As the global economic crisis and the changing needs of the worldwide labour market threaten to increase inequality further, how can education help reduce it? <p>As the fourth issue of...</p>

<UL> <LI>The higher the level of education, the higher the salary cost of teachers per student. In Belgium (Flemish Community), France and Spain, the difference in the annual salary cost between the primary and upper secondary levels of education exceeds USD 1 800 in 2010. </LI> <LI>Between 2000 and 2010, the...</li></li></ul>