Literacy is everyone’s business: Understanding and bridging Ireland’s literacy gaps
Join Ibec and Nala on 8 September for a webinar to mark International Literacy Day
Each year on 8 September, International Literacy Day (ILD) happens around the world to mark the importance of literacy as a human right.
This is more important now than ever. Recent research highlights that many Irish adults do not have the basic literacy skills they need to engage fully in work and society.
The latest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Survey of Adult Skills shows that in Ireland:
- One in five adults (around 700,000 adults) has unmet literacy needs. They may struggle with filling in forms or understanding policies.
- One in four adults (around 835,000 adults) has unmet numeracy needs. They may have difficulty working out percentages or understanding graphs or tables.
- One in six adults (around 640,000 adults) have unmet digital literacy needs. They may struggle with buying services online or engaging critically with online content.
The impact of literacy needs on work
Based on the OECD research, NALA estimates that 420,000 of those adults with unmet literacy needs and 490,000 of the adults with numeracy needs are working.
As a learner told us:
“I get a complete block every time I’m asked to write about something in work… As soon as I’m asked to prepare a draft of something or send an email I just shut down.”
We also know from our research that not having these basic skills may result in:
- greater risk of misunderstandings or incidents relating to health and safety or compliance
- lower employee confidence and engagement
- limited internal progression and talent development
- work not being completed correctly or on time
- increased costs if additional supports or training are required to engage with systems and procedures
We also know that literacy needs often remain invisible. Many adults develop clever ways to hide their difficulties and may not seek support due to fear or shame. This means employers may be unaware of the challenges, stress and worry that affect employees with literacy needs.
Raising awareness of these literacy needs and creating a literacy friendly workplace can have significant benefits for your employees and business.
Clear and accessible communication and documentation, supportive workplaces and relevant learning opportunities can improve employees’ confidence and capability. It can also improve your organisations’ effectiveness, performance and success.
How can you bridge the literacy gaps?
There are a wide range of supports and services to bridge the literacy gaps and many of them are free.
NALA provides the following:
- Plain English training and editing to ensure workplace communications, policies and customer-facing materials are clear and accessible.
- Literacy awareness eLearning courses and customised training to increase understanding of literacy and create supportive workplace environments.
- Learning and advice including our:
- Freephone referral service 1 800 20 20 65
- Learn with NALA eLearning and phone tutoring service
In addition,
- In person literacy classes are provided by local Education and Training Boards
- The Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy’s Literacy Champion programme offers employers a practical way to create more inclusive, accessible and supportive workplaces. Literacy Champions:
- promote literacy friendly practices,
- raise awareness of literacy needs and
- help ensure that workplace communication is clear and accessible to everyone.
Further information can be found by emailing allinnovation@solas.ie.
Investing in literacy friendly practices is not simply a social responsibility. It is a strategic workforce development opportunity.
By becoming more literacy aware, you will improve employee and customer engagement.
You can also help provide employees with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital economy and society. As another learner told us the impact of learning and literacy is “confidence. Having control of my life. Taking my place in the world. Feeling I’m worth it.”
Click here to register for Ibec and NALA’s webinar to celebrate International Literacy Day on 8th September 2026.
Who is NALA and how do we define literacy?
NALA is the National Adult Literacy Agency. Since 1980, we have been the leading independent voice for adult literacy in Ireland.
We believe that literacy is:
- a human right
- more than just reading and writing.
Literacy is being able to listen, speak, read, write, do basic maths and use computers to access, understand and communicate information.
Literacy enables us to reach our full potential and fully participate in our families, work and society.
Literacy is always changing and something we all need to continuously develop.
Read more in the NALA Learning for work report.
Colleen Dube, Chief Executive Officer, National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), cdube@nala.ie, +353 87 905 1222.
