Foundation Skills Study

The national survey, known as Understanding Skills Across Australia, is measuring adult literacy and numeracy skill levels to form an up-to-date national evidence base to assist researchers, policymakers and program managers improve services related to foundation skills.

Consistent with previous literacy and numeracy surveys in Australia, Understanding Skills Across Australia is being conducted via face-to-face interviews to ensure everyone, including those with lower literacy skills or accessibility issues, has the opportunity to complete the survey. Given the size and complexity of this survey, Jobs and Skills Australia has contracted research organisation, Roy Morgan, to undertake the data collection and coordinate field operations. Roy Morgan has extensive experience in undertaking large scale surveys, including expertise in survey design and data privacy.

Data collection for the survey has now concluded across all states and territories and the focus has now shifted to data processing, cleaning and analysis. We expect initial results to be available in late 2026.

Qualitative Study

Jobs and Skills Australia, with support from the Social Research Centre, is undertaking further interviews with a small number of people that took part in the Understanding Skills Across Australia survey.

These interviews will look more closely at the factors that have contributed to a person's literacy and numeracy skills. These interviews are expected to take place across November and December 2025.

If you have been approached to take part in an interview and have any questions, please contact the Social Research Centre on 1800 023 040.

In addition to the national study, Jobs and Skills Australia is undertaking a feasibility study into how best to collect the literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skill levels of First Nations people.

The study, known as Murtu Yayngiliyn has been developed in response to an absence of a contemporary and cohesive national data set on First Nations people’s foundation skills. Policies and programs to build the skills pipeline and the Government’s broader commitment to ensure no one is left behind and no one is held back means an evidence base on First Nations foundation skills is essential.

Literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (foundation skills) are critical skills for individuals, necessary in all parts of our lives for meaningful work and active participation in the community, and are determinate to health, social, and economic wellbeing. The proposed study is critical to delivery of policy and services in skills and training, employment, education and First Nations equity.

Advice regarding how best to deliver this part of the study will be sought from a First Nations Cultural Advisory Panel. This approach will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a meaningful say on the study. Recommendations from the study will enable governments and the adult education sector to better understand First Nations people’s foundation skills needs to implement strategies to address them.

Providing data on priority groups of interest, such as women, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, First Nations people, and people with a disability, will be an important part of the Foundation Skills Study. Analysis of Commonwealth administrative and other data will be undertaken to gain insights into the skill levels for these groups. This will supplement information obtained via the national survey, as information for these groups is unlikely to be output in depth due to sample size constraints.

It is proposed the results of the survey will be supplemented with insights from a more efficient use of key Commonwealth data, bringing together datasets, such as the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy and job seeker data, to establish a detailed evidence base.

Foundation Skills Study Administrative Data Report

Literacy, numeracy, and digital skills are essential for every Australian’s ability to work, learn, and participate in society. As the country navigates rapid economic and technological change, ensuring equitable access to these skills is more important than ever.
The Foundation Skills Study Administrative Data Report provides early insights into the foundation skills of key population groups, using data from national programs and education systems.
Priority cohorts explored in the report include:

• Women – showing strong literacy outcomes but lower numeracy proficiency
• First Nations people – demonstrating strong oral communication, with writing skills needing support
• Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities – participating at high rates, but facing challenges in numeracy and digital literacy
• People living with disability – achieving comparable success in VET programs, though broader data is limited

For more information, download the report. 

Digital literacy has been identified as a critical life skill, yet there is no single agreed definition of what this encompasses.

Jobs and Skills Australia will undertake a project to define what digital literacy is for Australia’s purposes.

Getting the design right is critical to ensuring the study delivers on the promise of building an evidence base for foundation skills in Australia, and partnering with stakeholders and specialists will ensure this.

A Steering Committee has been established to provide strategic advice and help shape the study. The Committee includes representatives from across industry, unions, training providers, state governments, research organisations and advocacy groups. The study will also be supported by targeted stakeholder working groups.

Jobs and Skills Australia published a discussion paper for public consultation on 4 April 2023, available at the Foundation Skills Discussion paper consultations page. Please note submissions closed on 24 April 2023.

Ongoing consultation will be undertaken throughout the life of the study and regular updates on the project status will be provided via the Jobs and Skills Australia website.

For further information please email the Foundation Skills Study team.