Focusing on Irish PIAAC data, this chapter investigates the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on adult skills, including gender, age, education level, language proficiency, and labour market participation. While each assessment domain is discussed individually, this chapter does not delve into the intricate connections between proficiencies. Any identified correlations between proficiency and socio-demographic factors should not be interpreted as straightforward cause-and-effect relationships. Proficiency is influenced by various factors, and its consequences are multifaceted. The international report employs advanced statistical methods to explore these complex relationships in greater depth.
The difference between the mean score of males (261) and females (265) in Ireland on the literacy scale is not statistically significant. Similarly, there are few substantial differences between the percentages of males and females across the levels of the literacy scale in Ireland. The percentage of females performing below Level 1 is 4% which is lower than males at 6% and this difference is statistically significant. See Figure 4.1a & Table 4.1.
In Ireland, people aged 16-24 have the highest literacy mean score (278) while adults aged 55-65 have the lowest literacy mean score (245). This pattern is seen across participating OECD countries where older age groups show on average a lower literacy proficiency score. There are also greater proportions of older adults (55-65) at the lowest proficiency levels. Over 3 in 10 (33%) adults aged 55-65 in Ireland achieved a literacy proficiency score of Level 1 or below compared with just over one in ten (12%) people aged 16-24. See Figure 4.1b & Table 4.1.
In Ireland, adults aged 16-65 who self-reported an excellent state of health have a higher literacy mean score (271) than those who report a fair (248) or poor (225) state of health. Across the levels of the literacy scale this pattern is also apparent, with proportionally fewer of those with excellent (16%) or very good (15%) health at Level 1 or below compared to those with fair (34%) or poor (49%) health.
Adults aged 16-65 in the Irish population who were not born in Ireland and whose native language is not English (foreign-language) have a significantly lower literacy mean score (248) than those born in Ireland whose native language is English (265). However, foreign-born native-English speakers scored similarly on average (266) to native-born English speakers (265). Similarly, over three in ten (32%) foreign-born adults whose native language is not English scored at Level 1 or below in literacy compared to under two in ten (19%) native-born adults whose native language is English.
In general, there are few differences between the literacy scores of immigrant and non-immigrant adults. A comparison of the literacy proficiency scale scores of 1st generation immigrants and non-immigrant adults in Ireland reveals a slight advantage for non-immigrants (264 as against 258) but this is not statistically significant. One in four (25%) of 1st generation immigrants achieved a literacy proficiency score of Level 1 or below compared to just over one in five (21%) of non-immigrants, also not statistically significant.
The average literacy mean score for adults aged 16-65 with at least one parent attaining tertiary education (282) is significantly higher than those with at least one parent attaining upper secondary/PLC (264) and where neither parent attained upper secondary education (244).
There is a clear correlation between educational achievement and literacy proficiency and generally adults in Ireland with higher levels of education have higher mean scores on the literacy scale. Adults aged 25-65 with a third level qualification achieved a mean score 71 points higher than adults with less than an upper secondary level education. This pattern is further illustrated by the percentage of persons at the lowest levels of literacy: 61% of those whose highest level of education is at less than upper secondary score at or below Level 1 on the literacy scale, compared to only 9% of those with a third level qualification.
Adults aged 16-65 in employment (ILO) in Ireland a higher mean score for literacy (268) than those who are unemployed (264) and not in the labour force (246). Similarly, the percentage of adults at or below Level 1 for literacy varies by economic status, with only 17% of employed adults scoring at or below Level 1 in literacy compared to 33% of adults not in the labour force.
A comparison of literacy proficiency across economic sectors shows an overall mean difference of 49 points between the highest and lowest scoring sectors. Those working in Professional, Scientific & Technical activities (287), Financial, Insurance & Real Estate activities (287), and Information & Communication (285) have the highest average literacy mean scores, while those working in Transportation & Storage (238) and Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (247) have the lowest.
There is a clear relationship between literacy proficiency and the standardised hourly salary of those currently in employment. The literacy mean score of those in the highest hourly salary decile (288) is 31 points higher than those in the lowest hourly salary decile (257). Under one in ten (8%) of those with the highest hourly salary are at or below Level 1 on the literacy scale compared to almost one in four (23%) of those with the lowest hourly salary. See Tables 4.1 & 4.2.
Unlike literacy the difference between the mean score of males (265) and females (255) in Ireland on the numeracy scale is statistically significant. Looking at the proficiency levels for numeracy, the percentage of females performing at Level 1 or below (26%) is slightly higher than males at 24% but this difference is not statistically significant. However, at the higher ends of the numeracy scale, over one in ten (14%) males are at Level 4 and 5 compared with 7% of females. See Figure 4.2a & Table 4.3.
The relationship between numeracy proficiency and age is similar to the relationship between literacy proficiency and age. Adults aged 16-24 have the highest mean score for numeracy (271), while adults aged 55-65 have the lowest numeracy mean score (243). Greater proportions of older adults are also at Level 1 or below, with 36% of those aged 55-65 scoring at Level 1 or below on the numeracy proficiency scale compared with just 16% of those aged 16-24. See Figure 4.2b & Table 4.3.
As with literacy levels, numeracy scores in Ireland are correlated with self-reported health. In Ireland, adults aged 16-65 in Ireland who report an excellent state of health have a higher numeracy mean score (267) than those who report a fair (248) or poor (217) state of health. Across the levels of the numeracy scale this pattern is also apparent, with proportionally fewer of those with excellent (22%) or very good (18%) health at Level 1 or below compared to those with fair (34%) or poor (57%) health.
Unlike with literacy, the gap between Irish born native-English speakers and foreign-born adults whose native language is not English, is not significant for numeracy. Adults aged 16-65 in the Irish population who were not born in Ireland and whose native language is not English (foreign language) have a lower numeracy mean score (255) than those born in Ireland whose native language is English (260) but this is not statistically significant. We also see that foreign-born native-English speakers scored higher on average (265) than native-born English speakers (260) but this is also not statistically significant. Just under three in ten (28%) of persons foreign-born and whose native language is not English scored at Level 1 or below in numeracy compared with just under one in four (24%) of native-born adults whose native language is English but this is not statistically significant.
There is little difference in the numeracy proficiency scale scores of 1st generation immigrants (261) and non-immigrant (259) adults in Ireland . The proportion of 1st generation immigrants that achieved a numeracy proficiency score of Level 1 or below was the same as non-immigrants both at 25%.
As with the literacy proficiency results, parental attainment is linked to numeracy proficiency. The average numeracy mean score for adults aged 16-65 with at least one parent attaining tertiary education (279) is higher than those with at least one parent attaining upper secondary/PLC (262) and where neither parent attained upper secondary education (241).
A strong link exists between educational attainment and numeracy skills in Ireland. Adults aged 25-65 with a tertiary level qualification tend to outperform those with lower levels of education in numeracy proficiency. Specifically, individuals aged 25-65 who have completed tertiary education scored an average of 72 points higher than those with an attained lower secondary education or below. This is also seen by the percentage of persons at the lowest levels of numeracy: 61% of those whose highest level of education is at lower secondary or below score at or below Level 1 on the numeracy scale, compared to only 12% of those with a tertiary level qualification.
As with literacy proficiency, adults aged 16-65 in employment (ILO) in Ireland have a higher mean score for numeracy (267) than those who are unemployed (256) and not in the labour force (238). Similarly, the percentage of adults at or below Level 1 varies by economic status, only two in ten (20%) of employed adults scored at or below Level 1 in numeracy compared to just under four in ten (39%) of adults not in the labour force.
Looking at numeracy proficiency across economic sectors shows an overall mean difference of 48 points between the highest and lowest scoring sectors. Those working in Information and communication (290), Professional, Scientific & Technical activities (285) and Financial, Insurance & Real Estate activities (283) have the highest average numeracy mean scores, while those working in Transportation & Storage (242) have the lowest.
Similar to literacy proficiency, there is a clear relationship between numeracy proficiency and the standardised hourly salary of those currently in employment. The numeracy mean score of those in the highest hourly salary decile (291) is 40 points higher than those in the lowest hourly salary decile (251). Just over one in ten (11%) of those with the highest hourly salary are at or below Level 1 on the numeracy scale compared to three in ten (30%) of those with the lowest hourly salary. See Tables 4.3 & 4.4.
Unlike numeracy, the difference between the mean score of males (250) and females (248) in Ireland on the adaptive problem solving scale is not statistically significant. Similarly, there are few substantial differences between the percentages of males and females across the levels of the adaptive problem solving scale in Ireland. The percentage of males and females performing at Level 1 or below are 29% and 28% respectively. See Figure 4.3a & Table 4.5.
The relationship between age and adaptive problem solving in Ireland is very similar to that of literacy and numeracy. Adults aged 16-24 have the highest mean score for adaptive problem solving (262), while adults aged 55-65 have the lowest adaptive problem-solving mean score (231). Looking at the age breakdown of adults in Ireland who score at or below Level 1 on the adaptive problem-solving proficiency scale, 17% of those aged 16-24 are at this level compared to 44% of those aged 55-65. See Figure 4.3b & Table 4.5.
In Ireland, adults aged 16-65 who report an excellent state of health have a higher adaptive problem solving mean score (255) than those who report a fair (237) or poor (220) state of health. Across the levels of the adaptive problem solving scale this pattern is also evident, with proportionally fewer of those with excellent (24%) or very good (22%) health at Level 1 or below compared to those with fair (39%) or poor (58%) health.
Irish resident adults aged 16-65 who were not born in Ireland and whose native language is not English have a lower adaptive problem solving mean score (240) than those born in Ireland whose native language is English (250). Just under four in ten (36%) of persons foreign-born and whose native language is not English scored at Level 1 or below in adaptive problem solving compared to just under one in three (27%) of native-born adults whose native language is English, but this difference is not statistically significant.
A comparison of the adaptive problem solving proficiency scale scores of 1st generation immigrants and non-immigrant adults in Ireland reveals almost no difference (248 as against 247). The proportion of 1st generation immigrants and non-immigrants that achieved an adaptive problem solving proficiency score of Level 1 or below was 28% to 30% of non-immigrants and the difference was not of statistical significance.
As with the literacy and numeracy proficiency results, parental attainment is linked to adaptive problem solving proficiency. The average adaptive problem solving mean score for adults aged 16-65 with at least one parent attaining tertiary level education (264) is higher than those with at least one parent attaining upper secondary/PLC level (251) and where neither parent attained upper secondary education (232).
Like literacy and numeracy there is a clear link between educational attainment and adaptive problem-solving proficiency and generally adults in Ireland with higher levels of attained education have higher mean scores on the adaptive problem scale. Adults aged 25-65 with tertiary level attainment achieved a mean score 56 points higher than adults with an attainment level of lower secondary education or below. The percentage of adults aged 25-65 scoring at or below Level 1 on the adaptive problem solving scale is significantly higher among those with lower levels of education. Specifically, 68% of those with lower secondary education or below scored at or below Level 1, while only 16% of those with a tertiary level attainment did so.
As with literacy and numeracy proficiency, adults aged 16-65 in employment (ILO) in Ireland have a higher mean score in adaptive problem solving (253) than those not in the labour force (235). Unemployed adults in Ireland also achieved a mean score of 253 points. Similarly, the percentage of adults at or below Level 1 varies by economic status, one in four (25%) of employed adults scored at or below Level 1 in adaptive problem solving compared to four in ten (40%) of adults not in the labour force.
A comparison of adaptive problem solving proficiency across economic sectors shows an overall mean difference of 38 points between the highest and lowest scoring sectors. Those working in Information & Communication (269), Professional, Scientific & Technical activities (267) and Financial, Insurance & Real Estate activities (264) and have the highest average adaptive problem solving mean scores, while those working in Transportation & Storage (231), and Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (235) have the lowest.
Like literacy and numeracy, there is a clear relationship between adaptive problem solving proficiency and the standardised hourly salary of those currently in employment. The adaptive problem solving mean score of those in the highest hourly salary decile (266) is 21 points higher than those in the lowest hourly salary decile (245). Only 16% of those with the highest hourly salary are at or below Level 1 on the adaptive problem solving scale compared to three in ten (30%) of those with the lowest hourly salary. See Tables 4.5 & 4.6.
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