Ricardo Espinoza is Head of Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Manager of PISA-VET at the OECD Centre for Skills.
He has extensive experience in skills, education and training, labour markets, and social policy in both academic and international settings. At the OECD, Ricardo leads a team of economists and policy analysts working on country and thematic projects in VET that support governments in identifying policy priorities, developing tailored policy advice, and strengthening implementation capacity. His work involves close coordination with international partners, member and partner countries, and key stakeholders to advance comparative research and evidence-based reform across VET systems.
Ricardo also manages PISA-VET, the first international large-scale assessment of competencies acquired through vocational education and training. The project measures both technical and foundational skills in realistic work-based contexts, generating comparative evidence on how well VET systems prepare young people for employment and labour market transitions — and helping governments benchmark their systems and strengthen policy design.
A Chilean national, Ricardo holds a PhD in economics from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.