Improved numeracy skills lead to better paid jobs, greater well-being and a less stressful life.
Numeracy skills are not just for scientists, accountants and the tax man, many professions require at least a basic level of understanding when it comes to numeracy and mathematics. Take some time to develop your numeracy skills – it’s never too late to learn.
Chris Humphries, Chairman of National Numeracy, talking to the BBC said:
“It is simply inexcusable for anyone to say ‘I can’t do maths.’”
He continued to suggest that many people cannot get jobs because they struggle to read graphs and interpret documents, while plumbers may find it difficult to do the necessary calculations to install a boiler and as a result lose income.
Careers New Zealand suggests that basic numeracy, needed for the workforce, should include:
- Counting quantities for a customer.
- The use of percentages and subtraction when giving a discount.
- Using division when calculating costs per head.
- Measuring the area of shapes.
- Calculating fuel consumption.
- Understanding tables in reports and interpreting graphs.