CSO reports large rise in third-level qualifications
The number of Irish adults with third-level qualifications increased by almost 30% between 2002 and 2006, according to the latest census figures from the CSO.
Around 830,000 people had such qualifications at the time of the 2006 census, compared to 645,000 four years earlier.
The CSO figures also show that 38% of foreign nationals in Ireland have a third-level qualification, compared to just 28% of native Irish nationals.
This is partially due to the fact that foreign nationals tend to be from younger age groups.
Elsewhere, the percentage of people who have only received a primary school education has also fallen from 18% in 2002 to 15% in 2006.
