New report: One in five Danish adults struggle with solving complex problems

Around 20 percent of Danes aged between 16 and 65 have difficulty using information to solve complex problems and adapt to new information. This is revealed in a new theme report from the international survey PIAAC on Danes’ skills in adaptive problem-solving.

Adaptive problem-solving involves the ability to understand and use information to solve tasks, and to adjust the solution when new circumstances arise. In the survey, participants were presented with tasks that mimic situations from everyday life and the job market, such as planning routes with unforeseen events or trading stocks on a fictional stock exchange with changing market conditions.

While nine percent of Danish participants achieved a high skill level, approximately one in five struggled with this type of problem-solving. Denmark overall ranks above average among the 31 participating countries and is on par with Norway and Sweden. However, participants from Sweden, Finland, and Norway on average perform better than the Danes.

The survey also highlights significant differences between age groups. Nearly a third of those aged 55-65 have low skills in adaptive problem-solving, compared to under ten percent of those aged 25-34. According to the report, the difference may be due to younger generations having received more project-oriented and interdisciplinary education and grown up with digital technologies and a constant flow of information.

Additionally, the survey indicates that skills in reading and math are closely linked to the ability to adaptively solve problems. Individuals with low reading and math skills often have difficulties solving complex problems, while the strongest problem-solvers typically also score highly in reading and math. However, the ability to adaptively solve problems is considered a separate skill.

Minister of Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye, stated in connection with the report:

“Adult education is a key issue for me. Society and the job market are becoming more and more complex, demanding that we can critically use and apply information and adapt to changes. This survey only confirms to me that we need to continue prioritizing adult education and ensuring opportunities for individuals to improve their skills throughout their lives. Therefore, it is crucial for me that the entire adult education sector emerges strengthened from the restructuring of the education system that we are currently undertaking.”