Numeracy and literacy problems lower pay

Workers who have problems with reading and writing often earn less than their colleagues, research has found.

The difficulties are common in all workplaces, but private sector workers are most likely to have problems with numeracy and literacy. Transport workers had the biggest literacy skill gaps and the highest levels of numeracy difficulties, which were also high in wholesale, retail, and other services areas.

The ESRI analysed the 2006 national employment survey, to which 50,000 workers responded. The authors say literacy difficulties could be understated as workers with acute problems may have been unable to complete the survey.