Yesterday, the OECD released the results of its decennial research on adult literacy and numeracy, known as PIAAC (Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies).

The Survey of Adult Skills aims to measure the skills needed by adults to participate in society and for economies to prosper. The 2023 survey assessed skills in literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem solving, and further information was collected through a background questionnaire. The latest Survey of Adult Skills was carried out in 31 countries during 2022 and 2023. The survey was carried out with adults aged 16 to 65 in their homes. Covid-19 reduced response rates however in England, 4,941 adults participated.

England participated in the first cycle in 2012 which identified that the youngest adults in England performed less well than older adults (contrary to the international pattern) and performed poorly compared with their international peers.

The Survey of Adult Skills 2023 National Report for England provides an in-depth analysis of the literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills of adults aged 16-65 in England, comparing them with international benchmarks and highlighting changes since the 2012 survey.

Key Findings of the 2023 OECD Report

Literacy:

  • England scored significantly above the OECD average, with only Japan outperforming among G7 countries.
  • 18% of adults in England had low literacy proficiency (below PIAAC Level 1), compared to the OECD average of 26%.
  • This marks an increase from 16.4% in 2012, indicating that the proportion of adults with the lowest literacy skills has actually risen over the past decade.
  • Notably, this trend persists even though literacy levels among young adults have improved, partly due to the raising of the statutory education participation age from 16 to 18.
  • Higher literacy skills were linked to higher education levels, employment, and being born in the UK.

Numeracy:

  • England’s numeracy scores have improved significantly since 2012, and are now slightly above the OECD average.
  • 21% of adults in England have low numeracy proficiency (below PIAAC Level 1).
  • Men outperformed women significantly in numeracy.

Adaptive Problem Solving:

  • England performed well, scoring above the OECD average, with 21% of adults at low proficiency.

Skills levels correlated with education, employment, and ethnicity. Adults with lower education or born outside the UK were more likely to have low proficiency. Higher skill use in the workplace correlated with better performance in all domains. Skills such as ICT, reading, and problem-solving were especially valuable. England’s socio-emotional skills were in line with OECD averages. Higher education levels were linked to better life satisfaction, social trust, and health outcomes.

Reading Trends

The report indicates some positive trends in reading habits in England, particularly among those who read frequently, though there are mixed outcomes overall.

  • Frequent readers perform better: Adults who engage in regular reading outside of work tend to have higher literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving scores. This reinforces the importance of reading as a tool for skill development.
  • Reading frequency is above OECD average: Adults in England generally reported reading more often outside of work compared to the OECD average.
  • High Use of Digital Platforms: A large proportion of adults reported using computers or digital devices for reading tasks like accessing information or managing online activities (e.g., banking), far exceeding OECD averages. This suggests a shift toward digital reading habits.
  • Room for Improvement: Despite the positives, 21% of adults in England reported never reading books.

Overall, the report suggests that while there is a substantial proportion of frequent readers benefiting from their habits, efforts to encourage broader reading engagement could yield further improvements in literacy and related skills.

The OECD Report In Conclusion

The headline is clear: adult literacy in England has declined over the past ten years. 18% of adults in England having low literacy levels equates to approximately 8.5 million adults in England with low basic skills. Key risk factors included low education, specific ethnic backgrounds, and lack of digital literacy.

The report emphasizes the importance of policies to reduce the skills gap, promote lifelong learning, and ensure equitable opportunities to enhance literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving abilities, particularly among disadvantaged groups.

This report highlights both progress in certain areas, like improved numeracy and literacy among youth, and persistent challenges such as disparities in skill levels across demographics.

The study highlights the crucial role that literacy plays in economic outcomes, employment, volunteering, and social trust—the key pillars of strong, functioning communities.