Adult learning has risen in Ireland, but barriers remain for adults with literacy and numeracy needs.

This week, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has launched a new report on trends in adult learning, in 31 countries including Ireland. This is the second report that the OECD have published using data from their Survey of Adult Skills 2023 (also known as the Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies, or PIAAC).

Adult learning has risen in Ireland

Ireland’s rate of adult learning (51%) is well above the OECD average (40%). Ireland is also one of only two countries whose rate of adult learning has risen significantly since 2012, when the last survey was run. This shows what committed policy intervention can achieve.

Another positive finding for Ireland is that almost all adults who did informal learning – 95% – found their learning useful. Adult learning is clearly valuable.

Adults with literacy and numeracy needs are being left behind

Unfortunately, not everyone is benefitting from the overall rise in adult learning. In Ireland:

• Adults whose highest level of education so far is lower secondary (for example, Junior Certificate) or below have a much lower rate of adult learning – 26% – than adults with third level education, whose adult learning rate is 66%.
• Adults with literacy needs are less than half as likely to be in adult learning (their rate is 31%) compared to adults with high literacy skills (their rate is 71%).

Adults in Ireland are also very unlikely to be specifically working on their literacy or numeracy. Just 1.5% of adults doing work-related training were studying literacy skills, and just 2% were studying numeracy skills.

Barriers include time, childcare and cost

Adults who hadn’t participated in learning in the past year, even though they wanted to, were asked why not. The main reason, in Ireland and across the OECD, was lack of time.

In Ireland, 25% of adults said they had no time due to family responsibilities. This is much higher than the OECD average (18%).

Costs are also a barrier to adult learning, with 14% of adults in Ireland saying this was their main barrier. This is just above the OECD average (13%).

What’s next?

In their policy brief on this report, the OECD warn: ‘Without deliberate, coordinated policy action, adult learning reinforces advantage rather than levelling the playing field.’

The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) welcomes this latest research into the findings of the OECD Survey of Adult Skills 2023. We will use this new evidence to help level the playing field, through our advocacy on behalf of adults with literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs.

Useful links:

NALA news item: Adult Literacy Needs have Risen in Ireland

OECD report: Trends in Adult Learning: New Data from the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills

OECD policy brief: What’s Missing in Adult Learning – and How Do We Fix It?

Media queries:

Michelle Lynch

Communications, Outreach and Advocacy Manager

mlynch@nala.ie

0879689016