Workforce Literacy Developing across the Continuum

JaNel Jamerson, Director Flint & Genesee Literacy & Basic Skills Network

Illiteracy vs. Functional Literacy

Illiteracy A person cannot read or write

Functional Illiteracy An individual may have basic reading, writing and numeracy skills, but cannot apply them to accomplish tasks that are necessary to make informed choices.

Functional Illiteracy

Those who are functionally illiterate may have difficulty:

Reading a medicine labelReading a nutritional label on a food productFilling out a job applicationReading and responding to correspondence in the workplaceFilling out a home loan applicationReading a bank statementWorking out the correct change at a supermarket.

Functional Illiteracy

Limits a person’s ability to engage in activities that require either critical thinking or a solid base of literacy and numeracy skills, including:

Understanding government policies and voting in electionsUsing a computer to do banking or interact with government agenciesCompleting a higher education degree or trainingAnalyzing sophisticated media and advertising messages, particularly for get-rich-quick scamsAssisting children with homework.

Workforce Literacy Developing across the Continuum

Economic Repercussions

Poor Literacy in the Workforce

Loss of Earnings

Worldwide, people with literacy deficiencies earn 30%-42% less than their literate counterparts

A high school graduate earns $267,000 more than a non-graduate in a lifetime

For each high school graduate, there is an estimated savings of $127,000 in welfare cost in a lifetime.

Limited Employability

They do not have the skills required to undertake further vocational education or training to improve their earning capacity.

Loss of Business Productivity

Includes: Difficulty finding adequately skilled staffThe cost of training staff The cost of fixing incorrect orders or processing refundsResolving internal problems and issues arising from miscommunication or misunderstandings.

If every adult without a high school diploma, in Genesee County, had graduated form high school, there would have been more than a $236 Million increase in the county’s earnings

Social Repercussions Poor Literacy in the Workforce

Crime

Data shows that 60%-80% of prisoners have reading and writing skills at or below the level of functional literacy

Those who are still illiterate upon release have a high probability of re-offending.

Mass Incarceration

In African American Males, the rate of imprisonment increased by 430% between 1973 and 2010

Felony conviction and/or imprisonment reduces lifetime earnings and employment by 10%-30%

Crime economies support withdrawal from the labor force and high school dropout

Lifetime Risk of Imprisonment by Age 35 for Males in 2010

(By Education Level)

H.S. Drop Out Diploma/ GED College Grad0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Black Latino White

Mass Incarceration &

Single-Parent Families

Growth of Single-Parent

Families

Mass Incarceration

Declining Employ & Earnings

Single Parent Families & Literacy

Nearly half of low-income families, with children 8 years and under, are headed by single-parents

By the time low-income students reach kindergarten, it is likely that they will fall behind their mid-to-high income counterparts in language and pre-reading skills by 12-14 months.

Health

Parents with poor literacy are more likely to adopt poor nutritional and health practices in their homes

This leads to higher rates of disease, accidents and other health issues, which in turn raises demand for medical services and causes job absenteeism

Dollars 0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Drop-Out Graduate College Grad

Annual Consumption of Public Health Insurance

Impact on Children Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

Impact on the Family Unit • Parents with literacy deficiencies

tend to have lower expectations and aspirations regarding education for themselves and their children.

• Families in poverty are often forced to place work before education

• Parents with literacy deficiencies often lack the tools to support their student in learning

• When adults improve their literacy skills, it has an effect on their children’s likelihood of strong literacy skills

Interventions Change Trajectory