Essential skillslv

Workforce Literacy and

Essential Skills

Workforce Literacy and Essential Skills

The Workforce Literacy and Essential Skills Project Developed by Literacy Victoria, with private sector employers and

community partners A national, two-year pilot project Goal: To develop a replicable model that will help Canadians with lower

literacy levels successfully prepare for a job, get a job and keep a job.


Project Participants Corporate PartnersCommunity PartnersKnowledge Partners Volunteer TutorsTrainees


Essential Skills—The HRSDC Framework

“Essential Skills are the skills needed for work, learning and life. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.”

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Human Resource and Skills Development Canada


Essential Skills needed for all occupations

1. Reading Text2. Document Use3. Writing4. Numeracy5. Oral Communication6. Thinking Skills (includes problem solving)7. Working with Others8. Computer Use9. Continuous Learning


Literacy“The ability to understand and employ printed information in

daily activities, at home, at work and in the community—to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential.”

The Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey, Statistics Canada


Literacy Levels Level 1-- Poor reading, writing, numeracy skills. Difficulty with

printed materials. Level 2--Limited skills. Can find familiar words in simple text.

Level 3-- Minimum level needed to cope with today’s knowledge-based, electronic world. Can read material that is simple and clearly laid out.

Levels 4/5--Higher-order information processing skills.


In British Columbia 40% of working-age adults (16-65) are below level 3.

This includes 1 million Canadian-born adults and 300,000 immigrants.


A Hidden Issue Most workers can read and write, but still may struggle to

complete forms and documents, understand memos, count cash, use computers, communicate well, problem solve

Workers may not realize their skills are too low

Workers and employers usually adapt and work around it


Why should business be involved in literacy?


Low literacy costs Canadian businesses $2.5 billion annually in lost productivity. Literacy Alberta, 2007


The Canadian economy is shifting from manufacturing and natural resources to a knowledge-based economy.

Rapid changes in technology and global competition

require continuous learning and adaptation for all workers.

All of us struggle to keep up with the rapid pace of change, but workers with low literacy struggle even more.


Potential Benefits for Business Improved safety Improved productivity Reduced wastage and errors Training “sticks” Ability to recruit, retain and promote the most promising

employees


Stages of Corporate Readiness Stage 1: Unaware and unready

Stage 2: Unaware and favourable

Stage 3: Aware of the need

Stage 4: Implementing solutions


Trainees are supported for nine months Phase One: Pre-employment training

Phase Two: Transition to employment—job search support

Phase Three: Mentoring while adjusting to a new job


Program Delivery ModelIndividual Training PlanWeekly meeting with a tutor40-60 hours of pre-employment

workshopsMonthly Training circle


1. Learners Network Intake•Application• Interview•Matched with a tutor

•Benchmarking•Goal Setting workbook

2. Employment Goal Identified•Screen for WLES eligibility

• If not yet eligible, continue in LN or refer to external agencies

• If eligible, LN coordinator makes referral to WLES

3. WLES Intake• Interview•Skills assessment•Accepted or declined

• If declined, make referrals out, or continue in LN

4. Trainee Accepted• Individual Learning Plan created, based on their goals

5. Required Employment Readiness Modules•Qualities and Attitudes for Success

•Essential Skills•Career Exploration and sectoral knowledge

•Specific Employment goals

6. Search for Employment•Search skills•Application letters•Resume• Interview Skills

7. Adjust to Employment & Engage Employer•WLES contacts employer, with permission of trainee

•WLES staff engage employer

WLES Trainee Flow

(Draft Pilot #2)


CurriculaSelf-paced learning modulesBased on National Occupation StandardsAdaptation of emerit’s Tourism EssentialsIncludes:

Positive attitudes Essential (transferable) Skills Sector Knowledge

Workforce Literacy and Essential SkillsQualities for Success

ConfidenceCourageCourtesyEnthusiasmFlexibilityHelpfulnessHonestyPatienceRespectResponsibilityReliabilityTact


The Workforce Literacy and Essential Skills Program is funded by HRSDC, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills.


Contact Workforce Literacy and Essential SkillsProject [email protected]

www.literacyvictoria.ca

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Essential skillslv