Literacy and numeracy skills among adults have either stagnated or declined over the past decade in most OECD countries, according to the latest OECD Survey of Adult Skills. The decline has been particularly significant among low-educated adults, highlighting growing disparities in foundational skills. The Survey assessed the skills of around 160,000 adults aged 16-65 across 31 countries, 27 of which participated in the first survey in 2013. It measured literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, while also examining how these skills are applied in the workplace. The findings aim to shed light on how skill development impacts employment, quality of life, and economic growth. Key Findings • Stagnation and Decline: While countries like Finland and Denmark have shown improvements in literacy, most have not, and declines are particularly stark among the lowest-performing 10% of adults. • Numeracy Gains: Eight countries, including Finland and Singapore, recorded improvements in numeracy, though similar disparities exist. • Growing Inequalities: The performance gap between the top 10% and the bottom 10% has widened in many countries. Singapore and the United States reported the largest literacy and numeracy inequalities in 2023. • Persistent Social Disparities: Skills are closely linked to social background, with foreign-born adults typically scoring lower than native-born adults. In some countries, the rising share of foreign-born populations contributed to declining literacy scores. Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden emerged as the best-performing countries across all skill domains. Conversely, eleven countries, including Italy, Poland, and Spain, consistently scored below the OECD average. Gender and Skill Gaps • Literacy skills have declined more among men, narrowing the gender gap. • Men continue to outperform women in numeracy and problem-solving. “Adults with higher numeracy skills are more likely to secure employment, earn higher wages, and report better health and life satisfaction,” said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. The report highlights an urgent need for governments to rethink how foundational skills are supported. As technological advancements transform workplaces, these skills are essential for future resilience and prosperity. By investing in education and adult training systems, countries can build a more inclusive and skilled workforce to address these widening inequalities and sustain long-term growth. *160 000 adults aged 16 to 65 were surveyed in 31 countries and economies: Austria, Belgium (Flemish Region), Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, England (UK), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden and the United States. Download the report on the link below: