Responding to the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) published on 10 December 2024
Date:
10 12 2024Authors:
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Responding to the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute (L&W), said:
The improvement in young people's literacy and numeracy skills is welcome and testament to the success of school and further education policy and delivery. However, almost nine million adults still have low literacy and numeracy, and for older adults some scores have gone backwards in the last decade. This is perhaps not surprising given the 63% fall in adult English and maths classes since 2010. We need a renewed focus on English, maths and digital skills for adults – these are essential skills for life and work.
These numbers also mask substantial inequalities within construction. Women account for only 10 per cent of starts in construction apprenticeships so far this year, compared to 51 per cent of apprenticeships overall. In addition, this year only 9 per cent of construction starts are by individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds, with particularly big disparities for apprentices from black or Asian backgrounds.
The following years therefore present a unique opportunity to not only further boost apprenticeship numbers in the construction sector, but to expand their reach to wider groups. The new Government should work with employers and providers to seize this.
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