Based on an analysis of PISA, literacy can be identified as a set of functional competencies, which are assumed to enable social participation primarily due to vocational integration. However, in accordance with this setting, the compliance with the requirements for the lowest segment of the labor markets would have to be established. Typical activities of this segment, the so-called low-skilled workplaces, were explored by means of interviews, which were evaluated with the method of structured qualitative content analysis that focused on relevant, and especially, mathematical competencies. One significant finding is that vocational situations primarily pose different and superior requirements than educational standards postulate. Empirical evidence establishes the conclusion, which claims to brand literacy as literal practices: Essentially fundamental ideas should be broken away from classic academic forms of symbolization, in order to adequately comply with the findings from the practical perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)