France: new study highlights adult basic skill gaps and training needs

According to the report, 10% of adults aged 18 to 64 face difficulties with written language, while 4% are functionally illiterate. The lack of basic skills, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, particularly affects certain social groups. 

Persistent struggles with reading and arithmetic  

Although adult illiteracy is decreasing, a significant share of adults have literacy issues (4% in 2022 versus 7% in 2011). Moreover, 4 million people, or 10% of those aged 18 to 64, struggled with at least one of the three essential skills related to literacy: decoding words, writing correctly, and understanding simple texts. These insufficient skills often result in an inability to perform crucial everyday tasks, such as reading administrative documents or filling out forms. At the same time, 12% of adults face difficulties with arithmetic, which often overlaps with literacy challenges: 62% of people with writing difficulties also have problems with numbers.

While the gender gap is narrow in terms of literacy (11% of men versus 10% of women), it is more pronounced in arithmetic, with 15% of women having trouble compared to 9% of men.

A problem that affects the less educated and economically vulnerable areas 

Illiteracy is strongly correlated with educational attainment and social background. For instance, 35% of adults with little or no formal education struggle with reading or arithmetic, compared to a significantly lower percentage among those with higher education. Parental education levels also play a role: 19% of individuals with parents who have low levels of education face difficulties with literacy, compared to just 3% of those whose parents hold a higher education degree. Residents of economically disadvantaged urban areas are particularly affected by these issues. A third of people living in these areas struggle with reading, compared to only 8% outside these priority zones. The situation is even more dire in overseas territories, where 24% of adults have difficulties with literacy and 29% with arithmetic.

Individuals with literacy and numeracy challenges are less likely to engage with VET programmes, which increasingly require baseline skills for enrolment, understanding course content, and completing assessments. Further, these barriers disproportionately affect those in economically disadvantaged or remote areas, where training opportunities may already be limited.

The impact of skill deficits on access to training 

Those who struggle with literacy often face limitations in accessing daily services, particularly due to reduced use of digital tools. Indeed, 83% of people with literacy difficulties have used the internet in the past 3 months, compared to 97% of the general population. This translates to less autonomy in administrative tasks: only 61% of individuals with literacy difficulties managed these tasks independently in the past year, compared to 85% of other adults. The gap in digital and basic literacy skills directly affects participation in vocational education and training, particularly in continuing vocational education and training (CVET), which increasingly relies on digital platforms for enrolment, coursework, and communication. CVET programmes are a key pathway for adult learners and workers seeking to upskill or reskill. However, individuals with literacy deficits may struggle to access or fully benefit from available opportunities due to the increasing digitalisation of training delivery and administrative processes. 

By providing a clearer picture of the needs related to basic skill deficiencies and supporting local initiatives through partnerships, the ANLCI aims to ensure that ‘no one leaves a professional integration or training programme still facing illiteracy or digital illiteracy’.

Read more

• ANLCI. (2024, April). Communiqué de presse : en France, 1 400 000 personnes sont confrontées à l’illettrisme  [Press release: in France, 1.4 million people face illiteracy] (in French)
• ANLCI. (2024, Septembre). Dossier - Illettrisme et innumérisme :1 adulte sur 10 en forte difficulté [ANLCI – Septembre 2024 report : 1 in 20 adults straggling with illiteracy and illectronicism]
  (in English)
• Cedefop and Refernet (2023). Tackling illiteracy in work situations: France. Timeline of VET policies in Europe. [online tool]