IMPACT OF ILLITERACY
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ILLITERACY IN AMERICAAs many as 23% of the adult American population (40-44 million) is functionally illiterate (Level 1 according to the National Adult Literacy Survey) (NALS), lacking basic skills beyond a fourth-grade level. Illiteracy is widespread, a problem in every community, not limited to any race, region or socioeconomic class. ILLITERACY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMYAdult illiteracy costs society an estimated $240 billion each year in lost industrial productivity, unrealized tax revenues, welfare, crime, poverty, and related social ills. ILLITERACY AND HEALTHAdults with low-level reading skills frequently suffer from health problems because the lack the ability to read medical directions, health-related literature or prescription labels. Chronic health conditions may go improperly monitored by patients who are functionally illiterate and the overall well-being of these individuals may worsen overtime causing frequent doctor or emergency room visits, hospitalization, or even death. |
ILLITERACY AND THE WORKPLACEAccording to the NALS, 40% of the labor force in the United States has limited skills. American businesses lose more than $60 billion in productivity each year to employee’s lack of basic skills. (NALS) ILLITERACY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMThe rate of illiteracy in America’s correctional systems is over 60% (National Institutes of Health). ILLITERACY AND AMERICA'S YOUTHThe saddest casualty of the illiteracy in America are the children who are affected by intergenerational illiteracy. Children of disadvantaged parents begin their school life behind their peers. Parents with minimal or no reading skills often cannot provide the kind of support their children need to do well in school. Analysis has shown a direct correlation between young people’s test scores and the grade level attained by their parents.
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DID YOU KNOW?
50% percent of adults in Torrance County read below a 6th grade level.
WHERE NEW MEXICO STANDS IN TERMS OF LITERACY SKILLS:
20% of New Mexicans age 16 and older have literacy skills at level 1, the lowest level on a scale of 1 to 5. Each literacy level is associated with a specific set of skills that are generally accepted as necessary for full participation in society. Individuals at level 1, for example, have difficulty locating simple information in a news article or applying basic math to determine the total on a sales receipt.
In terms of literacy level 2, 46% of New Mexico's population is at this level or below. As a benchmark in practical terms, nearly two-thirds (64%) of all jobs today require literacy skills beyond level 2, while only 12% require skills at level 1 and 24% at level 2, according to a study by the Milken Institute.
| Figures for literacy levels are based on estimates using 1990 census data and results from the National Adult Literacy Survey reported in The State of Literacy in America (National Institute for Literacy, 1998). Literacy levels for all states, including a breakout by counties with populations of 5,000 or greater, can be found at http://www.nifl.gov/reders/reder.htm. |
For a listing of these programs, see the New Mexico Literacy Services.
ILLITERACY LEVEL CHART
| Levels | United States | New Mexico | Torrance County |
| Level 1 | 21% | 20% | 14% |
| Level 2 | 27% | 46% | 50% |
