OECD: reach adults with low literacy through people they trust
A new OECD report finds that closing the gap for adults with low literacy and numeracy needs active outreach through trusted intermediaries.
On 1 July 2026 the OECD published Navigating Life with Low Literacy and Numeracy, a study based on the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills.
The report finds that one in three adults across OECD economies lack foundational skills, and that this share has grown over the past decade. These adults are not one homogeneous group: how large their gaps are, whether they concern literacy or numeracy, and the role of migration and language background all differ.
Adults with low foundational skills face disadvantages in employment, earnings, health and civic participation — and those who would benefit most from adult learning are the least likely to take part.
Closing this gap requires active outreach through trusted intermediaries.— OECD, Navigating Life with Low Literacy and Numeracy (2026)
The OECD adds that learning for these adults needs to be contextualised and sufficiently intensive, and that it takes a sustained commitment to reach the adults whom adult learning systems have repeatedly failed to serve.
Why it matters for CAFÉ+
Language Cafés, libraries and integration centres are exactly such trusted intermediaries. CAFÉ+ will test how they can offer learning that starts from everyday conversation, builds future skills over several weeks and leads to recognised credentials.
More research in the State of the Art