Half the working-age population struggles with numbers

Almost
half of 16-65 year-olds in the UK lack the numeracy skills expected at a lower
grade GCSE level, according to new government figures.

The
National Needs and Impact Survey of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT Skills shows
that 47 per cent of adults in the UK fall below the Government’s Level 1
numeracy skills grading.

According
to the report, men have a higher level of numeracy than women, with one in
three men attaining Level 2 (A*-C GCSE) or above, compared to one in five
women.

Levels
of literacy are rising in the UK, but more than five million people aged
between 16-65 still fall short of Level 1 literacy skills, having not gained
grades D-G in at GCSE English.

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The
survey of 8,730 people aged 16-65 was conducted as part of the Government’s
Skills for Life programme to improve the literacy and numeracy of 1.5 million
adults by 2007.

By Michael Millar