Key Findings
Digital transformation
The COVID-19 pandemic and a shift to online learning have accelerated digital technology adoption in the global education system. Governments’ increasing investments in ICT infrastructure and rapidly-expanding edtech market are set to continuously drive digital transformation in the education industry in the foreseeable future.
Increasing education inequality
The socioeconomic inequalities between the rich and the poor are widening. Lower-income families will continue to face financial hardship and will be forced to limit discretionary spending, including expenditure on education. Moreover, the education achievement gap between students is anticipated to increase further due to distance learning and the digital divide.
Public funding pressures
The pandemic will create significant fiscal policy challenges in some countries. The unprecedented policy response to the crisis has raised public debt markedly and narrowed the available fiscal space, weighing on long-term fiscal sustainability. As a result, the budgetary allocations to education are expected to remain limited in coming years, exacerbating pre-COVID-19 education funding gaps.
Rising importance of lifelong learning
The pandemic and digital transformation in the global economy will continue to transform businesses and labour market needs. Consequently, countries will need to step up their efforts and scale up investment in lifelong learning in coming years.
Introduction
Scope
Examining four trends shaping the education industry
Key trends impacting the industry in 2022
Global overview
COVID-19 pandemic has a moderate impact on the education industry
Industry witnesses robust growth over 2021 but this will ease in the medium term
China and US remain the largest education industries globally
Rising operating costs to hinder profit growth
Asia Pacific market records the fastest growth in absolute terms over 2016-2021
Tight labour market and rising inflation boost operating costs
Inflationary pressures to remain high over the short term
Leading companies
The US education institutions maintain their leading positions in the industry
The number of education service providers increases in the largest economies
The education industry remains heavily fragmented
Global outlook
Asia Pacific countries to drive industry turnover growth
Industry turnover has already reached pre-pandemic levels in most countries
Key future trends shaping the global industry
Country snapshots
China: Industry to remain the largest education industry globally
Chinese education industry to record among the fastest growth rates over 2021-2026
USA: Industry growth is forecast to moderate in the long term
Student debt crisis is deepening in the US
Germany: Industry to maintain stable growth over the forecast period
Germany will continue to lead in terms of adult and other education turnover globally
Japan: Industry is projected to witness sluggish growth
Declining enrolment rates and low public funding limit industry growth
United Kingdom: Industry growth is set to ease in the long term
Increasing public funding and rising enrolment rates support industry growth
India: Industry to expand at the fastest pace across the major economies
India seeks to raise public funding and provide universal access to K-12 education
France: Industry is forecast to experience moderate growth through to 2026
The country increasingly promotes lifelong learning
Brazil: Industry turnover to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2023
Increasing fiscal imbalances could hamper industry growth in the coming years
Canada: Industry to experience stable growth over the forecast period
Recovering international student flows and rising tuition fees to boost universities’ growth
Australia: Industry growth is projected to ease in the medium term
Increasing public spending and growing enrolment rates to drive industry growth
Definitions