Literacy/Education

The Labour Market Group works closely with both the Educational institutions and the Literacy Service Providers in the districts to promote the value of Essential Skills and education as a first step to career enhancement and development.  Several partnerships have resulted in increased awareness of Workplace Literacy issues as well as general awareness of the Literacy and Educational services offered throughout the community.

There is a correlation between literacy and wage levels.  A Statistics Canada study indicates that each additional year of education a person receives is worth 8.3 per cent of their pay cheque.  Using an annual base salary of $30 000, this amounts to an additional $2490 per year.  (source:  Literacy, Numeracy and Labour Market Outcomes in Canada, Statistics Canada, 2001) 

Education levels of the Nipissing and Parry Sound population continue to lag behind those of the Province of Ontario, leading to the necessity of importing labour to accommodate replacement, growth and development in certain positions that require specific levels of education and /or skills.  This limits the expansion and development potential for employers within the region.

Literacy is defined as “using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential”.  This includes the knowledge and skills required/needed to:

• Understand and use information from company brochures, instruction manuals, newspaper articles
• Locate and use information contained in various formats i.e. job applications, transportation schedules, maps, tables and charts
• Effectively manage the mathematical demands of diverse situations i.e. working with numbers
• Effectively implement the process of problem solving (identify the problem, develop and/or apply the appropriate solutions).

For information on the various partnerships involving Literacy and Education providers, please visit the Provincial Partnership Database via the Local Board’s link also on the left panel of this site!