Lower literacy, numeracy skills
Older Australians have lower levels of literacy and numeracy than younger Australians, according to preliminary figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) last Friday.
Older Australians have lower levels of literacy and numeracy than younger Australians, according to preliminary figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) last Friday.
ABS director of the National Centre for Education and Training Statistics, Andrew Webster, said the recent Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) survey assessed people’s literacy and numeracy skills and their ability to solve problems in technologyrich environments.
The survey measured participants on a scale of one to five, one being the lowest and five being the highest.
“The survey found that 44% of Australians aged 15 to 74 years (7.3 million) had literacy skills at levels one or two, a further 39% (6.4 million) at level three and 17% (2.7 million) at levels four or five,” Mr Webster said.
For numeracy skills, 55% of Australians (8.9 million) were assessed at level one or two, 32% (5.3 million) at level three and 13% (2.1 million) at levels four or five.
“By comparison, among people aged 60 to 74 years, 65% were assessed as having literacy at levels one or two, and 71% were in the lower levels of numeracy,” he said.
“There was little difference in the proportion of males and females at each level of literacy, however more males (17%) than females (9%) attained the highest numeracy levels.”
Mr Webster added people out of the labour force were more likely than the employed or unemployed to be assessed at the lower levels of literacy (60%) and numeracy (70%).
The ABS expects to release final results for PIAAC in October 2013, coinciding with the publication of an International Report on PIAAC by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
(PIAAC) was conducted in 24 countries around the world and sought to measure the skills needed for people to participate in society and for economies to prosper.
More information on the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies is available for free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au
