Literacy - Learning & Work Web viewProblem-solving in Technology Rich Environments ... approximately 10% more adults at level 2 calculate costs or budgets, ... Readiness to learn Level

Results from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC):

Low proficiency and skills mismatch in work in Ireland– literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology rich environments (PSTRE).

Introduction

In 2013 data from PIAAC was published by the Central Statistics Office. The results showed that Ireland had the third highest response rates of participating counties at 72% (5,983 adults) between the ages of 16 and 65 years.The Irish results have illustrated that there is a significant number of people with poor literacy and numeracy skills. These participants had varying Levels of proficiency in literacy, numeracy and PSTRE. Low proficiency levels are often associated with negative outcomes for the individual. These outcomes include poorer economic circumstances through lower wages and a higher probability of unemployment both short and long term.

This Research Bulletin draws on rich data from the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). In the following pages we compare the extent to which adults with low proficiency level 1 or less and adults with level 2 proficiency experience each type of skills mismatch. The Bulletin focuses on each of the three proficiency domains (literacy, numeracy and PSTRE). It also provide information about the extent to which all adults in Ireland who scored at level 1 or less in the PIAAC survey report that their skills do not match their work. In some cases, adults report that they are not challenged enough in work while others report that they need more training. Furthermore, some adults feel that a lack of ICT skills affects their career. Figures are presented throughout to support the findings.

Profile of research subsample

A profile of adults who had level 1 or less proficiency in the areas of literacy, numeracy and PSTRE shows that

55% of the total sample with an estimated literacy level at or below level 1;

58% of the total sample with an estimated numeracy level at or below level 1; and

95% of the total sample with an estimated PSTRE level at or below level 1.

For a further breakdown see Table 1 below.

1

Table 1 Study subsample

Below level 1

At level 1 At level 2 At level 3 At level 4 At level 5

Percentage (%)

Literacy 4 13 38 36 8 #

Numeracy 7 18 38 29 7 1

PSTRE 19 44 33 5

Source: OECD (2012). Note: # indicates less than 1%.

Literacy 53.9% of adults with level 1 or less, and 56.8% of adults with level 2 literacy are

women. The average age of the respondents with level 1 or less is 43.7 years and

respondents with level 2 is 40.8 years. Over half (54.9%) of the sample with level 1 or less has lower secondary

education or less. Approximately one third (33.6%) of the sample with level 1 or less have had no

paid work in the last 5 years.

Numeracy 59.5% of the sample with level 1 or less and 58.2% of the sample with level 2 are

women. The average age of the respondents with level 1 or less is 43.0 years. Almost half (49.1%) of the sample with level 1 or less has lower secondary

education or less, whereas almost half (47.8%) of the sample with level 2 has upper secondary education or less.

Almost one third (31.1%) of the sample with level 1 or less have had no paid work in the last 5 years.

Problem-solving in Technology Rich Environments (PSTRE) 57.6% of the sample with level 1 or less and 51.6% of the sample with level 2 are

women. The average age of the respondents with level 1 or less is 39.1 years and

respondents with level 2 is 34.4 years. Over one quarter (26%) of respondents with level 2 have upper secondary

education or less and 22.3% have tertiary education (bachelor degree). 41% of

2

respondents with level 1 or less have upper secondary education or less, and 21.8% have post-secondary (non-tertiary) education.

Skills requirement among adults with low proficiency In the following pages we compare the skills requirement of adults with low proficiency level 1 or less with adults with level 2 proficiency. We focus on each of the three proficiency domains (literacy, numeracy and PSTRE) and present separate analysis for each skills-based occupational classification. Figures are presented throughout to support the findings.

Low proficiency and skills requirement in work

In the PIAAC survey there are several questions that respondents are asked which relate aimt to capture skills requirement and mismatch among adults who are currently working. These measures are self-reported, meaning that the adults themselves give their perspective on their own skills requirement. The questions are as follows:

Do you feel you have the skills to cope with more demanding duties than those you are required to peform in your current job? This reflects the concept of not being challanged in work.

Do you feel that you need further training in order to cope well with your present duties?

Do you think you have the computer skills you need to do your current job well?

The PIAAC results show that an individual’s occupation is more strongly associated with how that person uses skills at work than either her or his educational attainment or the type of employment contract s/he has (OECD, 2013). In order to understand the skills that adults with low proficiency in literacy, numeracy, and PSTRE use on a regular basis in work we focus on a set of information processing skills. These include reading, writing, numeracy and problem solving and ICT-based tasks.

Key findings

Significantly more adults with level 1 or less literacy, numeracy and PSTRE, compared with adults at level 2, report not being challenged in work. The greatest difference is between adults at level 1 and level 2 in numeracy (15% compared with 9.1%).

Significantly more adults at level 2 literacy write letters memos or mails, write reports and fill in forms everyday as part of their job compared with adults at level 1 or less.

3

Consistently more adults with level 2 literacy read or use reports, articles, magazines and journals, read or use bills, invoices, spread sheets and budget tables and read or use diagrams or schematics compared with adults at or below level 1 literacy.

Significantly more adults with level 2 numeracy report needing more training (25.5%) compared with level 1 (21.1%).

Significantly more adults with level 2 numeracy compared with at or below level 1 numeracy completed numeracy related tasks in work every day. In particular, approximately 10% more adults at level 2 calculate costs or budgets, use or calculate fractions or percentages and use a calculator every day.

Twice as many adults with level 2 PSTRE report that their level of computer use in work is complex (10.8%) compared with 5.7% of adults with level 1 (PSTRE).

Smaller differences are seen between the number of adult at level 2 and adults at level 1 or less PSTRE who use the internet for conducting transactions, for real-time discussions and who use computer programming language.

For PSTRE more adults with level 2 (96.4%) report that they have they have the skills they need compared with adults at or below level 1 (90.7%).

Compared with adults at level 2, significantly more adults who are at or below level 1 PSTRE, numeracy and literacy report that a lack of ICT skills affects their careers.

Adults with level 2 PSTRE consistently use different ICT skills more often than adults with level 1 or less.

Particular differences are seen in the larger percentages of adults with level 2 PSTRE who use the internet for mail, use the internet for work related information, use a computer for spread sheets and use a computer for Word in work every day.

Figure 1: Reading in work

4

Level 2

At or below level 1

Level 2

At or below level 1

Liter

acy

Num

erac

y

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0%

43.5%

33.8%

44.0%

36.0%

34.3%

28.5%

35.8%

28.1%

25.3%

19.3%

24.2%

16.6%

Read or use diagrams or schematics

Read or use bills, in-voices, spread sheets, budget tables

Read or use reports, ar-ticles, magazines, jour-nals

Consistently more adults with level 2 literacy read or use reports, articles, magazines and journals, read or use bills, invoices, spread sheets and budget tables and read or use diagrams or schematics compared with adults at or below level 1 literacy.

This is shown by the higher percentages of adults at level 2 who complete these tasks at least once a week and the higher percentages of adults at level 1 or less (literacy) who complete these tasks either rarely or never.

Figure 2: Writing skills use in work

Skill use work - Write letters memos or mails

Skill use work - Write reports

Skill use work - Fill in forms

0.0% 20.0% 40.0%

36.8%

21.5%

35.5%

23.6%

18.2%

24.5%

at or below level 1level 2

5

Significantly more adults at level 2 literacy write letters memos or mails, write reports and fill in forms everyday as part of their job compared with adults at level 1 or less.

There is no significant difference in the percentages of adults at level 2 and at or below level 1 (literacy) who write articles as part of their job (less than 1% of adults in each case).

Figure 3: Numeracy skills use in work

Calculating costs or budgets

Use or calculate fractions or percentages

Use a calculator

Prepare charts graphs or tables

Use simple algebra or formulas

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%

28.7%

26.5%

40.7%

8.1%

9.1%

20.8%

16.0%

30.6%

6.8%

5.9%

At or below level 1level 2

Significantly more adults with level 2 (numeracy) compared with at or below level 1 (numeracy) completed numeracy related tasks in work every day.

In particular, approximately 10% more adults at level 2 calculate costs or budgets, use or calculate fractions or percentages and use a calculator every day.

Figure 4: Self-reported skills requirement in work

6

Level 2 Level 1 or less



Literacy Numeracy PSTRE

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

10.20%

14.30%

9.10%

15.00%

7.50%9.40%

23.80% 23.60%25.50%

21.10%

26.20% 26.40%

Not challenged enough in work Need more training

Note: The percentage of adults who answered ‘yes’ is displayed.

Significantly more adults with level 1 or less literacy, numeracy and PSTRE, compared with adults at level 2, report not being challenged in work.

The greatest difference is between adults at level 1 and level 2 in numeracy (15% compared with 9.1%).

More adults with level 2 numeracy report needing more training (25.5%) compared with level 1 (21.1%)

Significantly more adults with level 2 numeracy report needing more training (25.5%) compared with level 1 (21.1%).

Figure 5: Complexity of ICT skills use in work

Level 2 at or below level 1



PSTRE Numeracy Literacy

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

23.4%

45.3%46.4%

61.6%

51.0%

62.9%65.7%

49.0% 48.5%

35.0%

43.4%

35.7%

10.8%5.7% 5.2% 3.3%

5.6%1.4%

StraightforwardModerateComplex

7

Significantly more adults with level 2 PSTRE, numeracy and literacy use moderate or complex computer skills in work compared with straightforward computer use.

Figure 6: I have the ICT skills I need





80.00%

82.00%

84.00%

86.00%

88.00%

90.00%

92.00%

94.00%

96.00%

98.00%96.40%

90.70%91.40%

88.80%89.70%

86.40%

Note: The percentage of adults who answered ‘yes’ is displayed.

Across each proficiency domain a high proportion of adults report that they have the ICT skills they need to do their job (over 85% in each case).

For PSTRE, significantly more adults with level 2 (96.4%) report that they have they have the skills they need compared with adults at or below level 1 (90.7%).

Figure 7: Lack of ICT skills affects my career

8





0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

4.10%

7.10% 6.80%

11.80%

8.90%

10.80%

Note: The percentage of adults who answered ‘yes’ is displayed

Compared with adult at level 2, significantly more adults who are at or below level 1 (PSTRE), numeracy and literacy report that a lack of ICT skills affects their careers.

9

Figure 8: ICT Skills use in work (every day)

Use the internet for mail

Use the internet for work related information

Use the internet to conduct transactions

Use a computer for Spread sheets

Use a computer for Word

Use computer programming language

Use a computer for real-time discussions in work

0.0%20.0%

40.0%60.0%

80.0%100.0%

80.3%

55.7%

19.0%

47.7%

60.6%

4.7%

7.3%

66.1%

46.3%

17.4%

30.8%

45.0%

3.1%

3.3%

At or below level 1Level 2 or 3

Adults with level 2 PSTRE consistently use different ICT skills more often than adults with level 1 or less.

Particular differences are seen in the larger percentages of adults with level 2 PSTRE who use the internet for mail, use the internet for work related information, use a computer for spread sheets and use a computer for Word in work every day.

Smaller differences are seen between the number of adult at level 2 and adults at level 1 or less (PSTRE) who use the internet for conducting transactions, for real-time discussions and who use computer programming language.

Skills requirement, earnings and job satisfaction

We explored the effect of self-reported skills requirement on hourly wages and job satisfaction among adults with low literacy, numeracy and PSTRE in a series of linear regressions. We developed separate regression models for each skills based occupation classification.

We used hourly earnings (including bonuses for wage and salary earners) and self-reported job satisfaction as the outcomes of interest. Job satisfaction was rated on a 5 point Likart scale, 1 indicating extremely satisfied and 5 indicating extremely dissatisfied.

10

We used indicators of “needing more training” and “not challenged enough” in their current work as the predicting variables.

In each model we controlled for a range of variables that could be influence a persons earnings and job satisfaction. These included: highest level of completed education, economic sector, type of contract, number of hours worked per week (current job), gender, born in Ireland, age and living with spouse or partner.

The results of the linear regression should be interpreted as the difference in hourly wages or the difference in job satisfaction between adults who report ‘Yes’ to each skills

requirement questions compared with those who answered ‘No’. Significant results are summarised below in Tables (below).

Difference in hourly wages associated with self-reported skills requirement

Controls: highest level of completed education, economic sector, type of contract, number of hours worked per week (current job), gender, born in Ireland, age and living with spouse or partner.

Difference in job satisfaction associated with self-reported skills requirement

11

B S.E. Sig.

Literacy Skilled occupations

Need more training -10.80 4.17 .01

Numeracy

Skilled occupations

Need more training -5.90 2.97 .05

Controls: highest level of completed education, economic sector, type of contract, number of hours worked per week (current job), gender, born in Ireland, age and living with spouse or partner.

Adult who have level 1 or lower (literacy) and are in skilled occupations

For adults in this group who reported needing more training, we observed a 10.79 increase in the hourly earnings coefficient compared with adults who reported not needing more training. This was significant at the 5% level. There is heterogeneity in the skilled occupation group. It may be the case that there are adults in these skilled occupations with higher earnings also higher expectations for further training and therefore we see this association between higher earnings and reporting needing more training.

Adult who have level 1 or lower (literacy) and are in an elementary occupations

Among adults in this group who reported needing more training, we observed a 1.12 unit decrease in their job satisfaction. This was significant at the 5% level.

Adults who have level 1 or lower (numeracy) and are in skilled occupations

Among adults in this group who report needing more training, we observed a 5.90 increase in the hourly earnings coefficient. Among adults in this group who reported being challenged enough in work we observed a .70 decrease in their job satisfaction compared with adults who are not challenged enough. This was significant at the 1% level.

12

B S.E. Sig.

Literacy Elementary occupations

Need more training

-10.80 4.17 .01

Numeracy Skilled occupations

Not challenged enough

-5.90 2.97 .05

PSTRE Skilled occupations

Lack of ICT skill affects career

-.712 .211 .001

Adults who have level 1 or lower (PSTRE) and are in skilled occupation

For adults in this group who reported that a lack of ICT skills does not affect their career we observed a .712 increase in their job satisfaction compared with adults who reported that their career was affected. This was significant at the 1% level.

13

At or below Level 1 and Level 2 comparedReading skills use in work As part of your job, do you …

… read or use reports, articles, magazines, journals

Literacy Sig. Numeracy Sig.


.000 Level 2 at or below level 1

.000

At least once a week 43.5 33.8 44.0 36.0

Less than once a week 7.7 5.1 8.6 4.3

Rarely or never 48.8 61.1 47.4 59.8

… read or use bills, invoices, spread sheets, budget tables



.000



Rarely or never 59.5 67.4 57.9 67.9

… read or use diagrams or schematics



.000



Rarely or never 69.0 77.6 69.5 79.4

Note: results displayed as percentage (%) of respondents

14

Skills requirement in work


Level 2

at or below level 1 Sig. Level 2


at or below level 1 Sig.

Not challenged enough in work 10.2 14.3 .015 9.1 15.0 .000 7.5 9.4 .052

Need more training 23.8 23.6 .498 25.5 21.1 .017 26.2 26.4 .487


Complexity of computer use in work PSTRE Numeracy Literacy

Level 2



at or below level 1 Sig.

Straightforward 23.4 45.3 .000 46.4 61.6 .000 51.0 62.9 .001

Moderate 65.7 49.0 48.5 35.0 43.4 35.7 Complex 10.8 5.7 5.2 3.3 5.6 1.4 Note: results displayed as percentage (%) of respondents

15

I have got the ICT skills needed to do the job well


Level 2



at or below level 1

Yes 96.4 90.7 .000 91.4 88.8 .105 89.7% 86.4 .104

No 3.6 9.3 8.6 11.2 10.3% 13.6 Note: results displayed as percentage (%) of respondents

Lack of ICT skills affect my career PSTRE Numeracy Literacy

Level 2



at or below level 1

Yes 4.1 7.1 .001 6.8 11.8 .004 8.9 10.8 .000

No 95.9 92.9 93.2 88.2 91.1 89.2 .233


16

ICT skills use in Work

Experience with computer in current job PSTRE

level 2 at or below level 1 Sig. Yes 86.8% 74.0% .000

No 13.2% 26.0%

Frequency of internet and computer use in work PSTRE

level 2 at or below level 1 Sig. Internet - How often for mail

.000

Never 10.0% 13.9% Less than once a month 1.4% 5.2% Less than once a week but at least once a month

1.5% 4.0%

At least once a week but not everyday

6.8% 10.8%

Every day 80.3% 66.1% Internet - How often for work related info

.000


5.7% 8.0%


20.2% 21.7%

Every day 55.7% 46.3% Internet - How often to conduct transactions

.059


7.8% 6.8%


13.3% 10.9%

Every day 19.0% 17.4%

.000

17

Computer - How often for spread sheetsNever 19.7% 39.4% Less than once a month 7.9% 9.8% Less than once a week but at least once a month

8.5% 7.2%


16.3% 12.8%

Every day 47.7% 30.8% Computer - How often for Word

.000


5.3% 7.0%


19.2% 16.3%

Every day 60.6% 45.0% Computer - How often for programming language

.000


1.7% 1.1%


2.7% 1.2%

Every day 4.7% 3.1% Computer - How often for real-time discussions

.000


7.0% 2.9%


7.0% 3.6%

Every day 7.3% 3.3%

18

Literacy skills use in work level 2 at or below level 1 Sig.

Write letters memos or mails .000

Never 40.7% 55.4% Less than once a month 5.7% 6.1%

Less than once a week but at least once a month

4.2% 4.9%

At least once a week but not everyday 12.6% 10.0%

Every day 36.8% 23.6%

Write articles .202


2.6% 1.8%

At least once a week but not everyday .7% .8% Every day .8% .6% Write reports .000


8.6% 5.3%

At least once a week but not everyday 12.7% 8.8% Every day 21.5% 18.2% Fill in forms .000


10.1% 9.2%

At least once a week but not everyday 16.1% 11.0% Every day 35.5% 24.5%

19

Numeracy skills use in work

level 2 at or below level 1 Sig.

Calculating costs or budgets .000


7.9% 3.5%

At least once a week but not everyday 9.9% 10.4% Every day 28.7% 20.8%

Use or calculate fractions or percentages

.000


5.6% 2.5%


Every day 26.5% 16.0% Use a calculator

.000


5.9% 4.1%

At least once a week but not everyday 12.3% 8.7% Every day 40.7% 30.6% Prepare charts graphs or tables .000


6.2% 3.5%

At least once a week but not everyday 8.4% 3.7% Every day 8.1% 6.8% Use simple algebra or formulas

.000


2.8% .9%


Every day 9.1% 5.9%

20

Skills use in the work place

The following graphs illustrate the average use of different skills in the workplace for adults with Level 1 or less and Level 2 proficiency in each domain. Skills are grouped and reported as indexes. These indexes capture various skills, for example, the Reading index demonstrates how often an adult uses a set of reading skills. Scores of 0 indicate low use whereas higher scores indicate more frequent use. Scores are compared for men and women, age groups, levels of education attainment, and skills-based occupational classifications. The first graph illustrates how often adults in the study sample use generic skills of learning and their readiness to learn.

Figure 9: Average index scores for learning in the work place and readiness to learn in the work place

Level 2 Level 1 or 0




0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

Learning Readiness to learn

Ave

rage

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 10: Average index scores for influencing, planning and task discretion in the work place

21

Level 2 Level 1 or 0 Level 2 Level 1 or 0 Level 2 Level 1 or 0 Literacy Numeracy PSTRE

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

InfluencingPlanning Task discretion

Ave

rage

inde

x sc

ore

Reading skills in work

Figure 11: Average index scores for reading skills in work for men and women

Level 2 (Literacy) Level 1 or 0 (Literacy) Reading skills in work

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

Male Female

Aver

age

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 12: Average index score for reading skills use in work by age group

22

24 or less 25-34 35-44 45-54 55 plus0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

Level 2 (Literacy) Level 1 or 0 (Literacy)

Ave

rage

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 13: Average index score for reading skills use in work by completed education level

Lower

secondary

or less

(ISCED

1,2, 3C sh

ort or le

ss)

Upper sec

ondary (IS

CED 3A-B, C

long)

Post-sec

ondary, n

on-terti

ary (IS

CED 4A-B-C)

Terti

ary –

profes

sional

degree

(ISCED

5B)

Terti

ary –

bachelo

r deg

ree (IS

CED 5A)

Terti

ary –

master/

resea

rch deg

ree (IS

CED 5A/6

)0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00


Ave

rage

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 14: Average index score for reading skills use in work by skill-based occupation

23

Skilled occu-pations

Semi-skilled white-collar occupations

Semi-skilled blue-collar

occupations

Elementary occupations

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00


Aver

age

inde

x sc

ore

Writing skills use in work

Figure 15: Average index scores for writing skills use in work for men and women

Level 2 (Literacy) Level 1 or 0 (Literacy) Writing skills in work

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

Male Female

Ave

rage

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 16: Average index scores for writing skills use in work by age group

24

24 or less 25-34 35-44 45-54 55 plus0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00


Aver

age

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 17: Average index scores for writing skills use in work by completed education level

Lower

secondary

or less

(ISCED

1,2, 3C sh

ort or le

ss)

Upper sec

ondary (IS

CED 3A-B, C

long)

Post-sec

ondary, n

on-terti

ary (IS

CED 4A-B-C)

Terti

ary –

profes

sional

degree

(ISCED

5B)

Terti

ary –

bachelo

r deg

ree (IS

CED 5A)

Terti

ary –

master/

resea

rch deg

ree (IS

CED 5A/6

)0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.00


Aver

age

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 18: Average index scores for writing skills use in work by skills-based occupation

25




occupations


0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00


Aver

age

inde

x sco

re

Numeracy skills use in work

Figure 20: Average index scores for numeracy skills use in work for men and women

Level 2 (numeracy) Level 1 or 0 (numeracy) 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

Male Female

Aver

age

inde

x sco

re

Figure 21: Average index scores for numeracy skills use in work by age group

26

24 or less 25-34 35-44 45-54 55 plus0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

Level 2 (numeracy)Level 1 or 0 (numeracy)

Aver

age

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 22: Average index scores for numeracy skills use in work by completed education level

Lower sec

ondary or le

ss (IS

CED 1,2, 3

C short o

r less)

Upper sec

ondary (IS

CED 3A-B, C

long)

Post-sec

ondary, n

on-tertiary

(ISCED

4A-B-C)

Tertiary

– profes

sional d

egree

(ISCED

5B)

Tertiary

– bach

elor d

egree

(ISCED

5A)

Tertiary

– mast

er/res

earch degr

ee (IS

CED 5A/6)

0.000.501.001.502.002.503.00


Aver

age

inde

x sco

re

Figure 23: Average index scores for numeracy skills use in work for men and women

27




occupations


0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00


Aver

age

inde

x sco

re

PSTRE skills use in work

Figure 24: Average index scores for PSTRE skills use in work for men and women

Level 2 (PSTRE) Level 1 or 0 (PSTRE)0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

Male Female

Aver

age

inde

x sco

re

Figure 25: Average index scores for PSTRE skills use in work by age group

28

24 or less 25-34 35-44 45-54 55 plus0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

Level 2 (PSTRE)Level 1 or 0 (PSTRE)

Aver

age

inde

x sc

ore

Figure 26: Average index scores for PSTRE skills use in work by completed education level

Lower

secondary

or less

(ISCED

1,2, 3C sh

ort or le

ss)

Upper sec

ondary (IS

CED 3A-B, C

long)

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Terti

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Figure 27: Average index scores for PSTRE skills use in work by skills-based occupation

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occupations


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30

Summary

The data in this Bulletin shows that adults with level 2 proficiency report that they have they have the workplace skills they need compared with adults at or below level 1. The PIAAC results show that the single most important factor shaping the distribution of skills use in the workplace is the distribution of workers across occupations. Workers who have higher scores in literacy numeracy and PSTRE are more likely to be employed and earn more than those who score at the lower end of the scale.

For the Irish economy to continue to grow there is a need for a skilled workforce across all sectors. However, according a recent report from the Expert Group on Future Skills Need (EGFSN) employers struggle to retain staff in the services and care sectors. Is can be due to low pay and poor working conditions. On the other hand employment figures from the CSO show above average growth for more skilled sectors. There is also a continuing demand for IT skills and continued difficulty by employers to fill some of these positions (EGFSN, 2015). As demand for a more educated and skilled workforce continues to grow those with low skills are at high risk of being in low paid jobs or unemployed. Low proficiency skills across the three domains also limits the possibility of promotion, engaging in workplace training or indeed participating in further education and training. This in turn impacts on health, financial wellbeing and overall improvement in living standards.

The results in this section shows that for PSTRE, significantly more adults with level 2 report that they have they have the skills they need compared with adults at or below level. Across each proficiency domain a high proportion of adults report that they have the ICT skills they need to do their job. Significantly compared with adult at level 2, significantly more adults who are at or below level 1 PSTRE, numeracy and literacy report that a lack of ICT skills affects their careers.

The profile of the participants show that on average they are 40 years of age. This has implications at policy level as EurWork has highlighted that national ageing policies need to support the development of existing competencies and skills development. Irish research supports this finding and further suggests that workers productivity does not necessarily decline with age. It argues that any decline in physical activity is easily compensated by skills and qualities acquired through experience (INPAS, 2013; Department of Health, 2013).

These findings have implications at both a policy level particularly when it comes to investing in training for people at the lower end of the skills spectrum. For example, in

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2012 a report commissioned by NALA shows that when adults with literacy and numeracy difficulties receive training, they benefit by up to three times the average (Kelly et al, 2012). This highlights the value of investing in people at the lower levels as well as those who score at the higher levels. This research also provides valuable information that will assist policy makers and other stakeholders in the creation an d implementation of policies aimed at addressing the needs of this cohort of the population.

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Documents

Literacy - Learning & Work Web viewProblem-solving in Technology Rich Environments ... approximately 10% more adults at level 2 calculate costs or budgets, ... Readiness to learn Level