The lack of basic skills not only means low grades in school, but also lowered expectations for life as an adult.
Employment Status:
Adults at Level 1 worked an average of 19 weeks a year, compared to an average of 44 weeks per year for those at Level 5.
Income:
Adults at Level 1 earned a median income of $240 per week, compared to $681 for those at Level 5.
Poverty:
Some 43 percent of adults at Level 1 were living in poverty, compared to 4 percent at Level 5.
Welfare:
As literacy levels fall, the likelihood of being on welfare rises. Three out of four food stamp recipients performed at the two lowest literacy levels.
Crime:
Seven out of ten prisoners performed at the lowest two literacy levels.
Source: National Institute for Literacy
