Literacy Skills Amongst English Adults Continue to Decline, OECD Study Reveals
In a world increasingly shaped by information, communication, and digital access, the ability to read with confidence and understanding is more essential than ever. Yet, the latest findings from the OECD’s Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) suggest that literacy among working-age adults in England is not improving — in fact, it’s getting worse.
The PIAAC study assesses the literacy skills of adults aged 16–65 across OECD countries, rating their reading ability on a scale from 0 to 5. A score of Level 3 is seen as the minimum required to meet the demands of everyday life — things like understanding workplace emails, navigating healthcare information, and interpreting official forms. Scoring Level 1 or below is considered to reflect very poor literacy, severely limiting someone’s ability to participate in society and the workforce.
This blog will delve into the latest set of results and what the implications are for working-age people, employers and society as a whole. But if you’d like to read the results for yourself, you can access them here: Survey of Adult Skills 2023: national report for England - GOV.UK
A Stagnant – or Slipping – Picture at the Top
In 2019, nearly half of working-age adults in England (49.47%) were assessed as being below Level 3. At the time, this raised alarm bells about how well the education system was preparing people for the demands of modern life.
Fast forward to the latest results in 2024, and the situation has not improved. In fact, the proportion has risen slightly to 50% — equivalent to an estimated 18.34 million adults lacking the literacy skills needed to confidently manage everyday tasks.
This isn’t just a statistic. It’s a reflection of millions of people potentially struggling to:
Write clear emails or reports at work
Understand letters from their GP or local council
Help their children with homework
Access government services online
For businesses, it can mean decreased productivity, greater training needs, and communication barriers. For individuals, it can mean limited job opportunities, lower income, and reduced confidence.
A Worrying Rise in Very Poor Literacy
Even more concerning is the rise in adults scoring Level 1 or below — those with very poor literacy skills. In 2019, this group made up 16.36% of adults in England. In 2024, that figure has risen to 18% — representing around 6.6 million people.
This level of literacy can mean struggling to:
Understand written safety instructions
Read a timetable or menu
Fill in a simple form
Follow medicine dosage information
For these adults, the barriers to employment, health, and full social participation are profound. The risk of social exclusion, long-term unemployment, and poor mental health is significantly higher.
Why This Matters – And What Fonetti Is Doing About It
These findings are more than a wake-up call — they are a clear indicator that literacy support must start early, and it must be sustained. At Fonetti, we believe that tackling the adult literacy crisis begins with how we teach children to read.
Our platform uses Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology to support children reading aloud — one of the most effective ways to build fluency, comprehension, and confidence. By offering real-time feedback and encouragement, Fonetti helps young readers develop strong literacy foundations before they fall behind.
The OECD data makes one thing crystal clear: the cost of poor literacy is not just individual — it’s societal. But by investing in the right tools, delivered at the right time, we can change the trajectory for the next generation.
Let’s not wait for the next report to show us what we already know.
Let’s build a future where every child — and every adult — can read with confidence.
