This paper is concerned with adult numeracy skills as these are presented within the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). It will focus on what we can learn from PIAAC results about adult skills, about the assessment and about societal structures. Theoretical discussions increasingly view numeracy as embedded in power relations. If so, these power relations should be visible in the results. This paper will provide a brief overview of underlying theory in the field, focusing on three elements of numeracy skill proficiency: the distribution of skills in society, the process of defining a hegemonic view of numeracy skills and finally, the value of numeracy skills in the context of power relations. This value of numeracy skills can be analysed by the example of gender relations in the labour market. The analyses will use PIAAC-data to indicate how gendered hegemony might influence the way numeracy skills matter in terms of monthly wages and the probability of getting into leadership positions.