National Data | Chart | "Skills Shortage" — Or Immigration Overreach?

By Edwin S. Rubenstein

11/10/2005

Table 1:

International Adult Literacy Scores, 1994-98

(Ranked in descending order by mean score)

Rank

Country

Mean Score

5th percentile

95th Percentile

95th/5th ratio

1

Sweden

304

216

386

1.79

2

Norway

294

207

363

1.75

3

Denmark

289

213

353

1.66

4

Finland

288

195

363

1.86

5

Netherlands

286

202

355

1.76

6

Germany

285

208

359

1.73

7

Canada

280

145

372

2.57

8

Belgium

277

163

359

2.20

9

Australia

274

146

359

2.46

10

New Zealand

272

158

361

2.28

11

United States

272

133

371

2.79

12

Switzerland

271

143

352

2.46

13

United Kingdom

267

145

360

2.48

14

Ireland

263

151

353

2.34

Source: Michael J. Handel, "Worker Skills and Job Requirements: Is There a Mismatch?", Economic Policy

Institute, 2005. Table 4. https://www.epi.org/content.cfm/book_worker_skills

Table 2:

Immigrant and Native-born Literacy Scores

Demographic Group

U.S.

17-High Income Countries

Difference (U.S.-Other Countries)

Native born

284

276

8

Foreign born

210

226

-16

Native born

High School dropout

225

243

-18

High School grad or higher

295

294

1

Foreign born

High School dropout

149

177

-28

High School grad or higher

243

258

-15

Source: Andrew M. Sum et el., "The Twin Challenges of Mediocrity and Inequality: Literacy in the U.S. From an International Perspective," Educational Testing Service, 2002. Table 12, page 21.

(International Adult Literacy Survey scores.)

Edwin S. Rubenstein is President of ESR Research Economic Consultants in Indianapolis.

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