Adult Literacy in America - National Center for Education Statistics ...

NALS
4
3
9
12
15
15
14
8
10
7
demonstrated proficiencies in Level 1 were out of the labor force — that is,
not employed and not looking for work — compared with only 10 to 18 percent
of the adults performing in each of the two highest levels (FIGURE 2.7).
On the other hand, some 30 percent of the individuals in Level 1 and nearly
45 percent of those in Level 2 had full-time employment, compared with
about 64 to 75 percent of the respondents who performed in the two highest
literacy levels.
The average proficiency results offer another perspective on the
connection between literacy and labor force status. As seen in Figure 2.7,
adults in the highest literacy levels were far more likely than those in the lowest
levels to report being employed full time. As a result, the average proficiencies
of full-time employees are quite high — 288, 284, and 290, across the three
literacy scales (TABLE 2.2).
Percentages of Adults In and Out of the Labor Force, by Literacy Level
PROSE DOCUMENT QUANTITATIVE
Level Employed full time
Level
Employed full time
Level
Employed full time
1
2
3
4
5
30
43
54
64
72
1
2
3
4
5
29
44
56
66
74
1
2
3
4
5
29
43
55
64
Employed part time
Employed part time Employed part time
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
17
11
25
Unemployed
Out of labor force Out of labor force Out of labor force
35
52
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
9
8
9
7
5
4
13
14
14
13
15
10
23
Unemployed Unemployed
34
53
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
9
9
6
4
3
9
14
15
13
11
24
18
13
34
53
Figure 2.7
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100
Level 1 0 to 225
Level 2 226 to 275
Level 3 276 to 325
Level 4 326 to 375
Level 5 376 to 500
Percentage in Each Labor Force Category
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Adult Literacy Survey, 1992.
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