National Adult Literacy Database

A new publication in the NALD Library could serve as a wakeup call for Canadians interested in or concerned about the future of the workforce. It’s a timely study and one to bookmark for future reference.

A follow-up to People without Jobs, Jobs without People (2010), Dr. Rick Miner’s latest work is entitled Jobs of the Future: Options and Opportunities (2012).

In this document, he points out that the aging of the baby boom generation means there will be a significant decline in the proportion of Canada’s population in the prime working years of 15 to 64. At the same time, the emergence of the knowledge economy, Dr. Miner says, demands that the proportion of the labour force with post-secondary education or training must increase dramatically to prevent an economic crisis.

Measures like increasing the total population through immigration and increasing the participation rates of those currently underrepresented in the labour force would help the situation but don’t provide a complete answer, according to Dr. Miner. The greatest need, he believes, is a change in attitudes towards post-secondary education, and the recognition that the vast majority of young people must acquire post-secondary education or training.

Dr. Miner doesn’t leave post-secondary education institutions off the hook either. He argues that what is taught at the post-secondary level must be based on and incorporate basic employability and literacy skills.

“What are these skills?” he wants the reader to ponder. There may be some debate about one or two of the specifics, he says, but the most frequently listed include the following:

• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking
• Numeracy
• Document usage
• Critical thinking
• Group work
• Continuous learning
• Computer usage

Dr. Miner says he would add “multicultural awareness” and “entrepreneurship” to this list. They’re good additions, we at NALD agree.

“Given the increased frequency of job and career shifts, these skills will form the foundation for all future training and retraining,” he said.

Dr. Miner concludes his report by calling for major change in educational and training processes and outcomes, in order that Canadians will be able to adapt successfully to this rapidly changing environment. He urges educational and training facilities to become “more affordable, flexible, relevant, responsive, time-sensitive and student-oriented.”

“The impact of the trends emerging from the changed environment will differ in different communities, and these communities will need to identify and prepare for the most significant of these trends. Their successful adaptation and the prosperity of these communities will depend on getting this right.”

Jobs of the Future: Options and Opportunities can be accessed in the NALD Library at http://library.nald.ca/research/item/10654.

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This article was prepared by:

Christy English
NALD Editor/Stakeholder Liaison
Tel: 506-462-5034 or toll-free: 1-800-720-6253
Email: christy.english@nald.ca