Is that a reflection of the fact that it's far worse to be illiterate than innumerate? Sure, an innumerate person will struggle in all kinds of everyday contexts and probably won't end up working as an engineer or mathematician. But if they can read and write fluently, and are skilled/talented in ways that don't require much math, they can still excel in a number of career types.

By contrast, if a person can't read or write, they're shut out of a huge fraction of careers, even if they're exceptionally good with numbers.