Does Numeracy Matter More

Abstract

Earlier research has demonstrated that people with poor numeracy tend to leave full-time education early and usually without qualifications, and that their employment experience is insecure, characterised by periods of casual work and unemployment. This study aimed to identify how far poor numeracy (i.e. being able to deal competently with numbers, tables and graphs) was a problem in its own right or whether its effects could not be separated from the effects of poor literacy. The study used data from two major longitudinal studies of the British population: the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS) and the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70). Data about each cohort was collected at birth and follow-up surveys have been carried out at intervals over the years since then, including studies of the standards of literacy and numeracy and of many other aspects of the lives of the men and women in these two cohorts. This has enabled the identification by statistical analysis of the effect of poor literacy and/or numeracy on other aspects of people's lives. The results of the study reveal that, for men, there is no real difference between the effect of poor literacy and poor numeracy together, and poor numeracy alone. For women, while the impact of low literacy and low numeracy skills is substantial, low numeracy has the greater negative effect, even when it is combined with competent literacy. Changes in the nature of employment are a major contributor to the problem of numeracy for women. Employment that is attractive to young women, e.g. managing accounts, or using ICT equipment for administration, rely on numeracy skills. Numeracy skills also deteriorate if not used in employment and so, as poor numeracy results in limited employment and thus declining numeracy, it becomes harder to obtain and stay in employment. Poor numeracy skills make it difficult to function effectively in all areas of modern life, particularly for women. It is recommended that government policy be targeted at tackling poor standards of numeracy among the most disadvantaged sections of the female population, to counter the risk of social exclusion.

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