Work literacy issues 'affect men more'

Difficulties with literacy and numeracy in the workplace are more pronounced among men than woman, according to a study published this afternoon by the National Adult Literacy Agency.

The study found overall literacy rates in the workforce were good with just 1.5 per cent of employees indicating they had a difficulty with literacy, and just 2 per cent of employees indicating a difficulty with numeracy.

The overall rate of literacy difficulty for men was 1.7 per cent, while for women it was just 1.2 per cent. Similarly, the rate of numeracy difficulty for men was also higher, at 2.3 per cent, than that for women at 1.7 per cent.

While rates for both men and women were low, the proportion of the workforce reporting literacy difficulties rose to more than 6 per cent for those whose highest educational qualification was a Junior Certificate. In addition almost 9 per cent of this group reported numeracy difficulties.

The study found literacy difficulties generally reduced a worker’s expected wage by 5 per cent, and although males had slightly higher rates of difficulty than females, it was females who could expect the higher penalty for literacy difficulties, the research found.

The study was carried out by Eilish Kelly, Seamus McGuinness and Philip O’Connell of the Economic and Social research Institute. According to the trio, extensive research in other countries has long illustrated the importance of basic literacy and numeracy skills for an individual’s earnings. But they said little was known in Ireland about the impact that such skill gaps have on people's earnings, or the effect literacy and numeracy difficulties might have on private sector firms’ training expenditures.

The study found that similar proportions of public and private sector workers reported having a literacy difficulty; a slightly higher percentage of private sector employees indicated that they had a numeracy difficulty.

Those employed in the transport sector recorded the highest rate of literacy skill gaps, and workers in the wholesale and retail, transport and other services sectors reported the highest incidence of numeracy difficulties.

The research found negative wage effects associated with literacy difficulties was confined to the private sector and not apparent in the public sector.

Most employers who had staff with literacy and/or numeracy difficulties did not invest in training to address these skills gaps. Instead, employers were more likely to respond to skill gaps in the areas of management or foreign languages.

Inez Bailey, director of the National Adult Literacy Agency said the importance of literacy and numeracy in the modern workplace had drawn considerable attention from policymakers and researchers in recent years. But she added there had been insufficient concern with those in work who have not attained the requisite levels of literacy and numeracy in their initial education.

“ People with literacy and numeracy issues often hide their problem especially in the workplace where they fear ridicule or worse. However, free programmes to support people improve their literacy and numeracy skills exist both in the workplace and the community. Improving these skills benefits the individual in terms of increased earnings” .