IT
PRESS RELEASE
Presented the PIAAC Report – Cycle 2 “Cognitive Skills in Italy in the International Context. Determinant Factors, Levels and Social and Economic Returns”
In Italy one in four adults has limited cognitive skills, in the South nearly one in two
Rome, 12 March 2025 – Today, on the occasion of the National PIAAC Conference – Cycle 2, the Report “Cognitive Skills in Italy in the International Context. Determinant Factors, Levels and Social and Economic Returns” was presented, produced by the National Institute for the Analysis of Public Policies (INAPP). The Report outlines the main findings of the second cycle of the Adult Skills Survey conducted under the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and focuses on Italy and its territorial areas in comparison with the other Countries and Economies participating in the Programme.
In particular, the adult skills survey measures abilities in reading and understanding written texts (cognitive domain of literacy), in using mathematical information (cognitive domain of numeracy) and in solving problems in dynamic situations (cognitive domain of adaptive problem solving), thereby enabling an understanding of the country’s situation and providing the necessary tools to identify potential public policy interventions aimed at raising the skills of the adult population.
One quarter of adults in Italy have limited skills in all three cognitive domains: in reading and understanding texts, in using mathematical information and in solving problems in dynamic situations
In Italy, 35% of people aged 16–65 have limited skills (that is, are low performers) in reading and understanding texts (26% in the OECD average). This percentage, also confirmed for the ability to use mathematical information (25% in the OECD average), rises to 46% for the ability to solve problems in dynamic situations (29% in the OECD average).
Analysing the three domains together, the figure stands at 26% (18% in the OECD average): in Italy, about one in four adults aged 16–65 has limited skills in all three cognitive domains (literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem solving). This result varies substantially across Italian territories: while in the North-East 13% of the adult population has limited skills in all three domains, the percentage rises to 19% in the Centre, to 21% in the North-West, to 40% in the South, and reaches 46% in the Islands.
People with high levels of skills (high performers) in our country are significantly fewer: 5% in reading and understanding texts (12% in the OECD average), 6% in using mathematical information (14% in the OECD average) and only 1% in solving problems in dynamic situations (5% in the OECD average).
The fundamental role of investment in education and of the cultural background of the family of origin in generating and enhancing cognitive skills is confirmed.
The ageing of the population and the increase in migratory flows have had negative repercussions on the average skills of the adult population residing in the North-West and in the South.
In our country, the average level of skills possessed by adults has not changed between 2012 and 2023 despite significant deteriorations being observed in the Southern regions both in literacy and in numeracy, and in the Islands only in literacy.
In the decade between the two PIAAC surveys, however, the demographic composition of the adult population has changed: the ageing of the population and the increase in migratory flows may have contributed to the lack of improvement in skills at the national level or to the deterioration observed in the Southern regions, as immigrants and the elderly represent two population groups where skills tend to be lower.
If the structure of the population, in terms of age and origin, had remained the same as in 2012, the picture of skills in 2023 would have shown better results both in the South and in the North-West.
Estimates of adult skills in 2023, assuming the demographic structure remained unchanged compared to 2012, indeed indicate that, in the case of numeracy, the Southern regions would not have experienced a deterioration, but rather stability over time, while in the North-West an improvement in average skills would have been observed. In the case of literacy, there would also have been stability in the Islands and an improvement in the North-West.
Natale Forlani, President of INAPP, stated: “The adult skills survey conducted by our Institute highlights the urgency of investing in education and training to address the identified issues. The involvement of public and social actors is needed to build an effective educational offer, capable of enhancing skills – including digital skills, which are now indispensable for successfully facing the world of work and social life. Moreover, an integrated interpretation of the phenomena currently taking place in our country is necessary, analysing the impact of the ageing population and migrations on the overall skillset of adults in Italy.”
Link documents:
PIAAC Report
Executive summary
For further information:
Presidency – tel.0685447700