Adult language, literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills in the workplace

Athanasou, JA

Adult language, literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills in the workplace

Athanasou, JA

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 2012, 52 (1), pp. 173 - 182
Issue Date:: 2012-04-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Athanasou, JA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4743-4098	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-04-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 2012, 52 (1), pp. 173 - 182	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1443-1394	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/23266
dc.description.abstract	This paper examines the performance of the eight major occupational categories across the four skill areas of the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey. The results indicated that some 38-64% of employed Australians were below minimal competence (at Level 1 or Level 2) in one of the four skill areas of prose literacy, document literacy, numeracy or problem-solving skills. A pattern of greatest need was identified amongst two occupational groups, namely, machinery operators/drivers and labourers. There was also a clear occupational hierarchy in the area of problem-solving skills that was considered to reflect a social bias since it was inconsistent with the three other skill areas. The findings also highlight pockets of social disadvantage and inequality with many labourers outperforming managers and professionals. It was concluded that the pattern of performance across occupations and skill levels was statistically and significantly different than chance.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Journal of Adult Learning	en_US
dc.title	Adult language, literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills in the workplace	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	52	en_US
utslib.for	1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy	en_US
utslib.for	1301 Education Systems	en_US
utslib.for	1303 Specialist Studies in Education	en_US
dc.location.activity	Hangzhou
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/School of Education
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	52	en_US

Abstract:

This paper examines the performance of the eight major occupational categories across the four skill areas of the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey. The results indicated that some 38-64% of employed Australians were below minimal competence (at Level 1 or Level 2) in one of the four skill areas of prose literacy, document literacy, numeracy or problem-solving skills. A pattern of greatest need was identified amongst two occupational groups, namely, machinery operators/drivers and labourers. There was also a clear occupational hierarchy in the area of problem-solving skills that was considered to reflect a social bias since it was inconsistent with the three other skill areas. The findings also highlight pockets of social disadvantage and inequality with many labourers outperforming managers and professionals. It was concluded that the pattern of performance across occupations and skill levels was statistically and significantly different than chance.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/23266