this suggests that disadvantaged children from these countries are less likely to obtain the skills necessary for today s technologyrich and versatile labour markets and improve their socioeconomic status considering that acquiring labour marketrelevant skills and obtaining wellrecognised educational qualifications have become major determinants of labour market outcomes the lack of equity in education in these countries is worrisome in over of yearolds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in belgium france hungary iceland japan and the netherlands reported having more than a year of preprimary education experience table and annex table a in chapter