it suggests that improvements in the teaching of literacy and numeracy in schools and in programmes for adults with poor literacy and numeracy skills and limited familiarity with information and communication technologies may provide considerable economic returns for both individuals and society previous chapters of this report have examined the level and distribution of these skills among countries and different groups in the population as well as the relationship between proficiency and factors that are thought to help develop and maintain skills proficiency this chapter examines the relationships between proficiency and the following aspects of individual and social wellbeing participation in the labour market employment earnings health participation in associative or volunteer activities and the sense of influence on the political process