10 Jun International and local literacy surveys
In December 2024 the OECD released its latest Survey of Adult Skills from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The survey measures adults’ proficiency in literacy, numeracy and problem solving. You can watch the launch and initial analysis here. Australia did not participate in the 2022/2023 PIAAC round. However, Jobs and Skills Australia is instead leading the development of a new Australian study on adult literacy, numeracy and digital skills, The Foundation Skills Study.
One of its elements is a national survey known as “Understanding Skills Across Australia” which aims to measure adult literacy and numeracy skill levels and form an up-to-date national picture.
JSA has contracted research organisation Roy Morgan to undertake the data collection which is now taking place. As of early June, around 4,000 of the goal of 10,000 completed cases have been undertaken across urban, regional and rural areas. They anticipate that key findings, data tables and a qualitative study will be published in late 2026. More information is available on the Foundation Skills Page on the Foundation Skills Study website. You can email any questions to [email protected].