LITERACY AND EMPLOYMENT

“People with lower literacy skills
are twice as likely to be unemployed
as other adults. If they do have jobs,
they’re likely to be the lowest-paid,
most insecure and least attractive jobs.
The better paying, secure jobs
that used to exist for undereducated people are rapidly
disappearing.”⁹

Today, the jobs on the rise
require the highest literacy skills.
Workplace literacy is critical to keep up
with changing trends in the labour market.
Good literacy skills are needed to access
the training that can lead to jobs.

Literacy programs provide learners
with everyday work skills. Once trained,
these learner-workers may recognize
their right to speak up about safety or work conditions.
As adults improve their literacy skills,
there is lower work-related costs and improvements in
quality, time, and employee morale. ¹⁰