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Beloved children’s book author Dr. Seuss wrote in I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
We at PMI believe that reading is important and agree with Dr. Seuss. In that simple statement, he expresses a profound truth not only for young people but for the economy as a whole. There are personal benefits to reading – children who learn to love reading do better in school and gain the skills they need to succeed in life. But those benefits extend beyond individuals.
In past generations, people have obtained gainful employment with little formal education. But in the 21st century, the job market is more competitive. Strong reading skills and college degrees are more than beneficial; in many cases they’re absolutely necessary.
A recent study by ProLiteracy shows that the effects of low literacy cost the U.S. economy more than $225 billion each year. President Barack Obama spoke on the role of literacy in the U.S. economy at a gathering of the American Library Association. In his speech, he mentioned jobs that require “innovative thinking, detailed comprehension, and superior communication.”
He said, “But before our children can even walk into an interview for one of these jobs; before they can ever fill out an application or earn the required college degree; they have to be able to pick up a book, read it, and understand it. Nothing is more basic; no ability more fundamental.”
And studies back up what he said. A major effect of a struggling economy is unemployment, which especially affects those with little education. Obama mentioned in his speech that the average literacy required for future jobs is projected to rise, making literacy an even more important component of economic recovery.
[...] know that reading helps children develop skills they need for learning and is essential to a strong economy, but the effects of literacy go even further. Lack of education has been tied to criminal behavior, [...]
[...] them do better in school and gain skills that help them succeed in life. A literate population is essential to a strong economy. But most parents don’t need to be convinced it’s important to read to their kids. They just [...]