A concerning trend has emerged in Austria, where the number of people struggling with reading has increased by nearly 12% over the past decade. According to government data, almost a third of the population, approximately 2.6 million people, have poor reading skills. This decline is particularly noticeable among individuals with medium or low qualification jobs. The average literacy level among Austrians aged 16 to 65 is 254 points, significantly below the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average of 260 points.
Tobias Thomas, Director General of Statistics Austria, noted that the differences in reading skills among adults are substantial and continue to widen. The agency observed a significant decline in the consumption of complex reading materials, such as newspapers and magazines, with Austrians primarily reading shorter texts like emails. This shift in reading habits is alarming, as it may exacerbate the existing literacy gap.
The data also revealed that the number of people with low day-to-day math skills grew by 6.7% between 2012 and 2023, affecting 22.6% of the population. In contrast, a poll conducted in Russia found that reading remains a popular means of obtaining knowledge and information, despite increasing competition from visual media. The poll showed that 87% of respondents had read something in the previous week, with fiction being the most popular reading material.
The literacy gap in Austria is a pressing issue, and the government must take steps to address it. The fact that younger people, aged 16 to 24, performed above the OECD average, while older individuals struggled, highlights the need for targeted initiatives to support reading skills across different age groups. As the world becomes increasingly digital, it is essential to promote literacy and provide accessible reading materials to bridge the gap and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to develop their reading skills.
