California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Skills of U.S. Incarcerated Adults: PIAAC Study

May 11, 2017

This webinar will provide an overview of results from a recently released study called the Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) Prison Study. This study provides information on skills and competencies of incarcerated adults, and compares them to those of adults in U.S. households. The study also includes information on the extent of inmates' participation in formal education and job training programs.

Compared to the household population, the incarcerated population is disproportionately male, Black, and Hispanic and has lower levels of education. A large majority (94 percent) of incarcerated adults have no more education than a high school degree (and many have less) compared to 64 percent of adults in the general U.S. household population. Compared to the U.S. household average, incarcerated adults' literacy scores are significantly lower (by 21 points) and their average numeracy scores are significantly lower (by 35 points). About 20 percent of incarcerated adults are currently studying for a formal degree, with 70 percent of those currently not studying reporting they would like to enroll in an education program.