UK youngsters ‘falling behind in the basics’, new study finds

It reveals that the literacy and numeracy skills of 16 to 24-year-olds are among the lowest in the developed world, and in general, are are no better than those of their grandparents.

Overall, in England, young people came 22nd for literacy and 21st for numeracy out of 24 countries. Those in the same age group in Northern Ireland did slightly better.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned that despite facing a tougher labour market, the UK’s young people have skills similar to those who are retiring from the workplace. The report warns that the UK needs to take significant action to boost the basic skills of the nation’s young people.

The 460-page study is based on the first ever survey of the literacy, numeracy and problem-solving at work skills of 16 to 65-year-olds in 24 countries, with almost 9,000 people taking part in England and Northern Ireland.

The findings showed that England and Northern Ireland have some of the highest proportions of adults scoring no higher than Level 1 in literacy and numeracy – the lowest level on the OECD’s scale. This suggests that their skills in the basics are no better than that of a 10-year-old. In total, almost one in four adults (24.1 per cent) – around 8.5 million people – scored at or below Level 1 in numeracy, compared with an OECD average of 19 per cent. This meant that they can only do basic sums.

In the literacy test, 16.4 per cent, around 5.8 million people, scored the lowest level, compared with an OECE average of 15.5 per cent.

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock blamed the “shocking” findings on the previous goverment. “These are Labour’s children, educated under a Labour government and force-fed a diet of dumbing down and low expectations.”