Low work levels for those less educated

The impact of lower qualifications on job prospects is felt more by young men in Ireland than in most other developed countries, new figures show.

Although school completion rates here are now among the highest in Europe, with about 90% of people of school-leaving age doing the Leaving Certificate, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development analysis shows how comparatively poor the rates of work are for those who leave school early.

The figures emerge after a record 74,500 people applied for college places through the Central Applications Office by Sunday’s main deadline. The numbers are up 2% on the figure of just over 73,000 for the same stage last year, and are almost 5% higher than in February 2013.