A recent study indicates that functional illiteracy rates in Germany remain stable at 20 percent, representing approximately 106 million adults between the ages of 16 and 65 The findings, derived from the LEO study and the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), conducted by researchers at the University of Hamburg, suggest a plateauing of progress in literacy levels Researchers attribute this stagnation to a confluence of crises between 2018 and 2023, including the COVID-19 pandemic
Comparative data across Europe reveals similar trends Austria experienced a rise in the proportion of functionally illiterate adults from 16 percent in 2012 to 27 percent in 2023 Interestingly, Switzerland demonstrates a markedly higher level of perceived political efficacy among those with lower literacy skills, with 42 percent believing they can influence political events In contrast, only 17 percent of individuals with low literacy levels in Germany share that belief
The analysis also examined labor market participation Both Germany and Austria reported stagnant rates of approximately 60 percent employment among this demographic, while Switzerland recorded a significantly higher rate of 74 percent In Germany, 18 percent of adults with limited literacy remain employed in low-skilled positions