In 2011, 57% of adults in England were at or below OECD Level 2 - equivalent to UK Entry Level 3, the expected numeracy level of a primary school leaver. This was below the average among the OECD countries.
The latest results show that 52% of people in England are at or below that level. This figure places England slightly above the average among the OECD countries.*
Adults with skills at or below OECD Level 2 may not be able to understand their pay slips, work out discounts such as 10% or 50% off and convert bills from monthly to quarterly or annual amounts, for example.
Numeracy trend improving in England
The data comes from the highly anticipated 2023 Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) survey, which provides the first comprehensive insight into adult numeracy trends in England in over ten years. This crucial dataset shows how England's numeracy levels have evolved and how they compare to other OECD nations.
At National Numeracy, we are proud to see this shift and to have played a role in bringing it about. However, it is not all good news, and there is a long way to go if the UK is to become a world leader in skills.
It is a powerful rallying call for greater focus, investment and a collective effort to improve adults' skills.
Here are National Numeracy's top takeaways from the survey and what we believe needs to change...
- The report highlights the connection between good numeracy skills and significantly better employment opportunities, even when controlling for education attainment. It shows that the more numerate are far more likely to participate in the labour market and, if employed, on average, earn significantly more than their less numerate counterparts.**
- In addition, numeracy skills are positively correlated with life satisfaction and health, even when controlling for several personal characteristics, such as age, gender, and years of education
- A significant gender gap persists with numeracy skills, with men outperforming women by an average of 16 points, compared to the OECD average of 10 points.
- In a change to 2011-12 younger adults (under 35) are now displaying greater proficiency than older generations (55-65) in numeracy. This relationship is now in line with most other OECD countries.
In response to the PIACC survey, urgent action is needed across several key areas.
First, we must close the numeracy gap between individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds and their wealthier peers, ensuring that everyone has the skills to succeed in life and work regardless of background.
Gender inclusion is also vital, as women tend to score lower in numeracy, so initiatives must be introduced to close the number confidence gap and promote greater equality.
Equally important is ensuring that every child, regardless of their academic ability, leaves school feeling confident in their ability to use numbers in daily life, preparing them for the demands of modern society.
Building a culture that values numeracy across generations will help foster a "number-confident" society where numeracy is an essential life skill.
Finally, we must empower communities, particularly those in the most disadvantaged areas, to lead localised efforts to improve numeracy, address regional inequalities and ensure everyone has access to the support and resources needed to boost their skills. We can create a more equitable, confident, and numerate society by addressing these areas.
Let’s build a brighter future with numbers. Join us in making a difference today and find out how you can help people develop the numeracy skills they need.
*57% of survey respondents in 2011 and 52% of respondents in 2023 scored OECD Level 2 or below when answering a set of numeracy questions.
**Among employed adults, a one-standard-deviation increase in numeracy proficiency is associated with wages that are 15% higher, a statistically significant difference.
