Workplace literacy focuses on essential skills needed to achieve goals, to function and to thrive in the modern economy, and to develop knowledge and potential.
What essential skills are needed for work?
The Government of Canada has identified nine essential skills needed for the workplace. These essential skills are reading, writing, document use, numeracy, oral communication, thinking, computer use, working with others, and continuous learning. These skills are used in every job to varying degrees and at different levels of complexity. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.
Why is workplace literacy important?
Literacy matters for employment. Strong literacy skills are connected to being employed.
Literacy matters for earnings. Stronger literacy skills are associated with earning higher wages.
Literacy matters for health and safety. Understanding and following health and safety instructions can be critical for personal safety.
Literacy matters for success at work. Improving literacy skills can increase efficiency and accuracy at work, and can decrease work-related stress.
Literacy matters for adult education. People with stronger literacy skills are more likely to participate in adult education and job related training.
Information retrieved from Decoda Literacy and ABC Life Literacy Canada.