Myth #9: It is a better investment to train the best and forget the rest.
While about 35-40% of Canadians engage in training, only a small number of these have low levels of literacy. In other words, the individuals who most need training participate in it the least. (Statistics Canada, Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society, 1997) The provision of training opportunities to those already skilled is common among the nations studied in IALS. We ignore the literacy training needs of our whole labour force at our peril. Moreover, we cannot afford to neglect the deteriorating literacy skills of the short and longer term unemployed – particularly in light of skills shortages.

Myth #10: I don’t have a problem. I only hire grade 12 graduates.
In fact, in some parts of Canada, the attainment of Grade 12 is considered more than simply a proxy for literacy. It is, if you like, a ‘literacy qualification.’ The reality is that survey after survey of businesses throughout Canada indicates that employers are surprised and disappointed at the skill levels and the “employability” of high school graduates. Moreover, educators report that a high number of school leavers are entering college with grade 9 level skills.

Why Should Canadian Colleges and Institutes Care About Essential Skills?

What the research says about workers who have strong essential skills:

• increased “promotability” and transferability
• increased ability to use technology
• greater ability to work more independently
• better health and safety records
• better morale and higher job satisfaction
• better teamwork, problem-solving, and communication
• greater sensitivity around diversity
• increased productivity and reduced error rates
• better quality of work and greater work effort
• reduced absenteeism and stronger labour relations

Since colleges and institutes train workers for the workforce of today and tomorrow, they are important players in the Canadian government’s effort to strengthen learning in Canada, develop people's talent, and provide opportunity for all to contribute to and benefit from the new economy. One of the goals of the HRDC initiative, Knowledge Matters, is to build on the expertise of community colleges by exploring how to help support them in equipping Canadians with the skills they need for the future. By strengthening the essential skills of their learners, the colleges are promoting life long learning, a greater ability to manage change, self-respect and confidence, and better training results.

So, What Can We Do About Essential Skills?

Colleges can integrate essential skills into vocational and employment preparation training, borrow from existing models, access the tools that are available, and apply strategies learned at this workshop.