A lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills is a national disgrace, according to bosses and unions.
Government figures show one in five adults does not have the literacy or numeracy skills of most children starting secondary school.
The TUC and the CBI joined to prepare a report on the basic skills challenge facing the UK.
It says seven million adults have basic skills difficulties and this costs the UK economy about £10 billion a year.
Not all is doom and gloom. The joint report cites numerous instances where employers and unions have joined forces to tackle the skills crisis.
The report suggests employers can assist by providing counselling and training other staff as basic skills mentors, while union learning representatives can help their colleagues overcome anxieties and work with employers to develop ways of helping improve basic skills.
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