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Literacy in a thousand words

By Werquin, Patrick
Publication: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD Observer
Date: Sunday, October 1 2000

HEADNOTE

Literacy skills are a corner stone of economic success. The trouble is far too many people are without them.

The US economy may well be the world's largest, with the country riding a wave of unprecedented

growth. Yet 40% of its adult population lack the literacy skills required to participate in today's complex knowledge economy. Likewise, other leading economies, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, show similar patterns. Should we be concerned?

Not too long ago, the answer might have been "no". In a more industrial-based economy, high-paying jobs in sectors such as automotive and manufacturing did not necessarily depend on high literacy levels. Also, there were plenty of job opportunities for the less qualified. But today, high literacy skills are vital, not just to get on, but to integrate into the economy in the first place.

According to one study, the International Adult Literacy Survey, workers not only must have higher levels of education, but the ability to adapt, learn and master new skills quickly and efficiently. Today's economy is knowledge based, and to participate in it requires increasingly complex skills. Policymakers have to respond to these changes in their strategies for designing general and adult education programmes.

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Subject: Literacy, Social policy

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Literacy in a thousand words

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