Workplace difficulties

Adult literacy

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

The study found 1.5 per cent of employees indicated they had a difficulty with literacy, with just 2 per cent 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 2.3 per cent, while the rate for women was 1.7 per cent.

The study found literacy difficulties reduced a worker’s expected wage by 5 per cent. But while men suffered a wage penalty of 4.3 per cent, women suffered a penalty of 6.3 per cent.