LOW-SKILLED workers are more likely to be unemployed in Ireland than in any other EU country, says a top Irish literacy expert.
“The amount of low skilled employment is quickly slipping away and these people are most at risk of becoming unemployed, especially with the recent slowdown in the economy,” said Inez Bailey, director of the National Adult Literacy Agency (Nala).
“In the last few decades, Ireland has positioned itself as a high skilled, knowledge based economy. Its investment in up-skilling has benefited those at a higher level of educational attainment.
“However, without policy change there will be surpluses at lower educational levels, with a large number of lowskilled individuals unemployed or inactive.”
Bailey continued: “The National Skills Strategy has identified that this could have a seriously detrimental effect on Ireland’s plans to remain economically competitive.
She added: “Work is needed to build a culture of adult learning throughout life in Ireland and recognise the limitations of school based learning.
This exists in many of our neighbouring countries and as far afield as India.” In Ireland, some 30 per cent of the workforce has only a Junior Certificate, while 10 per cent has only a primary level education. A further 25 per cent of Irish adults lack basic literacy skills.
Nala has unveiled a new DVD for prospective literacy students called ‘Take on learning. Take on life.’ It features literacy students talking about their reasons for taking up education and the positive change that tackling their literacy difficulties has had on their lives. For further information, freephone Nala at 1800 20 20 65.
