Education and pay - Paying price of illiteracy

Things are bad enough when the taxman takes money from a person’s wage packet but when workers are paid less because they cannot read, it is a damning comment on the Irish education system.

Not for the first time, an ESRI report out today provides a graphic illustration of the vital importance of reading and writing as research shows that a worker who has difficulty with literacy and numeracy can earn as much as 8% less than his better educated peers.

It appears those in the private sector are more likely to have problems, mainly evident in the service industry, including the transport, wholesale and retail sectors.