The majority of jobs these days involve something mathematical, even if it's not immediately obvious. One really obvious area is wages. Yes, your own wage packet. If you're going to understand how that works, you're going to need some number skills. You'll need to check that you're being taxed correctly and that you're being paid the right amount.

Oh and let's not forget about expenses. You may have to pay for things connected with work and then be expected to claim the money back. This means entering all the information into a form to submit to your boss.

Most employers now expect their staff to take some kind of responsibility for their budgets. It's no longer only the job of the guys in the finance departments. Before it gets to them, you'll be expected to have done your bit. You may also need to cost out projects and keep a track of your spending.

You may also be involved in buying and selling. You may also be in a position where you're expected to know about unit conversions and measuring. You will also be expected to know how to use a calculator. Your boss may even want you to present information in table or graph form.

So, as you can see, you're better off knowing the basics. They're skills that you can build on later if you need to.