Why words and numbers won’t add up for 5m

FIVE million adults in England lack the basic reading, writing and maths skills essential to everyday life, research shows.

A report suggests that, in comparison with older generations, younger people are more likely to struggle with the basic skills than their counterparts in other countries.

A further 12.6 million lack basic digital skills and struggle with tasks such as sending emails and filling in online job applications.

The research was carried out by the Learning and Work Institute for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Both bodies described the results as “shocking”.

The five million lacking basic skills are those aged 16-plus who have only the literacy and numeracy skills that would normally be expected of a nine to 11-year-old or lower.

Nearly a quarter of 16 to 18-yearolds, and one in five 19 to 24-year-olds and 55 to 65-year-olds, in England have attained only the lowest level of literacy. This is Entry Level 1, the standard expected at ages five to seven, or below.

One third of 16 to 18-year-olds, and a quarter of 19 to 24-year-olds and 55 to 65-year-olds, have numeracy skills at Level 1 or below.

Adults below Entry Level 1 may not be able to write short messages or select floor numbers in lifts. Those below Level 2, normally expected for ages seven to nine, may struggle to use a cashpoint machine or describe a child’s symptoms to a doctor.

Those below Level 3, expected of nine to 11-year-olds, may not be able to understand price labels on pre-packed food or pay household bills.

Researchers also identified a reversal of the trend in other nations, where young people significantly outperform older generations. England is the third most literate country for 55 to 65-year-olds, the oldest group, but 18th for the youngest surveyed, those aged 16 to 18.

England is also the only country where the average literacy score of the youngest people is below that of the oldest.

Overall the UK ranks 15th for numeracy and 17th for literacy among the 34 OECD countries. Numeracy can be hard