Thriving in a Changing World: Assessing Adult Skills for the Future

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released its 2023 Survey of Adult Skills, titled "Do Adults Have the Skills They Need to Thrive in a Changing World?" This comprehensive report evaluates adults' proficiency in literacy, numeracy, and adaptive problem-solving across 31 countries, offering insights into the evolving landscape of essential skills in today's dynamic environment.

 

Key Findings:

• Global Proficiency Levels: The survey reveals a mixed global picture of proficiency in literacy, numeracy, and adaptive problem-solving skills.

• Skill Evolution Over a Decade: With 27 countries participating in both the current and previous cycles, the data provide valuable insights into how literacy and numeracy skills have evolved over the past decade.

• Economic and Social Outcomes: The report explores the relationship between these skills and economic and social outcomes, highlighting the importance of developing and maintaining skills in today's dynamic world.

The findings underscore the critical role of foundational skills in personal, economic, and societal development. They provide the basis for access to employment, higher wages, and continuous learning, while enabling individuals to navigate the complexities of their personal and civic lives.

Ireland

• 1 in 5 adults in Ireland are at or below Level 1 in literacy. 
• 1 in 4 adults in Ireland are at or below Level 1 in numeracy. 
• The percentage of Irish-resident adults who scored the lowest level of proficiency in literacy was 5% in 2023, and in numeracy this was 7%. These figures were below the OECD averages of 9% for each.
• The percentage of adults in Ireland with literacy needs has risen from 18% in 2013 to 21% now.

• Both the literacy and numeracy skills of the adult population in Ireland aged 16-65 years have remained stable, on average,  in the 12 years since the first iteration of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) survey in 2012.

• Those aged 16-24 years had the highest literacy mean score (278) while adults aged 55-65 years had the lowest literacy mean score (245).

• A strong relationship exists between educational attainment and numeracy skills in Ireland. Adults aged 25-65 years with a third level qualification tend to outperform those with lower levels of education in numeracy proficiency.

In light of the evolving skill demands, the report emphasises the need for education and training systems to adapt accordingly. It stresses the importance of developing and maintaining skills in today's dynamic world. 

Policy Proposals:

• To achieve this core policy objective in the years ahead, Social Justice Ireland believes that policy should:
• Make the improvement of educational outcomes for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and disadvantaged communities a policy priority, with additional resources focused on addressing the persistence of educational disadvantage
• Commit to increasing investment in Early Childhood Care and Education by 0.1 per cent of GNI* annually to reach 1 per cent of GNI* by 2030
• Commit to reducing class sizes and pupil teacher ratios at primary and post primary level by 1 point per annum to 2030
• Update our lifelong learning target to reach 20 per cent by 2030, ensuring sufficient resources are made available
• To meet the digital and green transition challenges, develop an integrated, multi-generational skills development strategy
• Fully resource ‘Adult Literacy for Life’ by increasing the adult literacy budget to €100 million by 2030, including €25 million to improve ancillary and support services
• Publish a funding roadmap for the higher education sector to 2030.