The scope of the problem - some numbers

Up to half of the workforce experience serious difficulties in reading skills. 12-16 million out of a total of 29.1 million are affected.

What is the impact on efficiency and productivity?

According to economic reports, British workers produce 30% less than workers in the USA and 20% less than workers in Continental Europe.

Press report - 12 million workers have reading age of children

Public Accounts Committee report

Press report - Graduates unfit for work say top firms

Press report - UK productivity

The UK economy is undergoing significant change. Skill requirements are also changing as we shift towards a more “knowledge” based economy.

The workforce is poorly qualified. Employers are facing a significant skills gap and yet most do not invest in training or developing their workforce.

Press report - Illiteracy a national disgrace

The reasons for this state of affairs are clearly complex. One of the main reasons is the poor reading skills evident in the workforce.

Although not every worker with poor reading skills is dyslexic, a significant number are. Many will display poor reading and writing abilities.

For many adult dyslexics, literacy skills are not an issue. Their dyslexia impacts on different aspects of work performance.

Difficulties in organisation, time management, prioritising, written communication, spoken communication, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, anxiety and stress may be evident.

Expert sources agree that between 2-4% of all individuals are seriously effected by dyslexia. Up to 10% of the population will experience a degree of dyslexia.

Our national workforce is 29.1 million. In 2005, Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary stated “Almost 3 million workers suffer from dyslexia and many may be suffering in silence or unaware of their problem.”

Key point: Virtually every company employs dyslexic people. Rational firms want to make the best of their human resources. Recognising dyslexia will improve efficiency and productivity.