Literacy and Numeracy- direct link to salary

Dublin South West representative Seán Crowe TD attended the start of National Literacy Awareness Week in the Vocational Education Office in Tallaght where and the publication of Literacy and Numeracy Difficulties in the Workplace was launched. Crowe said that the report was an important piece of research that illustrates a direct link between literacy and numeracy skills and an individual’s earnings.

Deputy Seán Crowe said

“There is something fundamentally wrong when children can spend years at school yet still reach adulthood not being able to read, write or add up simple sums.

“Many people often hide their problem especially in the workplace where they fear ridicule or worse

It would also seem that these basic skills deficits follow the individual into the work place and impact on their wages.

“The Literacy and Numeracy Difficulties in the Workplace report highlights that certain workplaces, including wholesale, retail and transport as having the highest amount of individuals saying they are experiencing problems.

“The ground breaking report makes a direct link to an individual’s income and their lack of literacy and numeracy. Literacy difficulties were found to reduce an individual’s earnings by 4.6% for men and a whopping 6.3% for women.

“The obvious conclusion from this report is that it is in the interest of society and the economy for anyone with literacy and numeracy difficulties to improve their skills and their income. Supports are available in the workplace and in a community setting for anyone that needs help and  as this report highlights it is in the interest of everyone to take advantage of these literacy and numeracy programmes. ”