When talking about illiteracy, we must also talk about poverty and unemployment. People with literacy problems in Canada have 2/3 the income of other Canadians, are twice as likely to be unemployed, and many more times more likely to receive some form of social assistance. Jobs available to lower-literacy adults tend to be the lowest-paid, and the most insecure. (National Anti-Poverty Organization: NAPO Facts, October, 1992)

Limited reading, writing, and math skills mean fewer opportunities for employment. In today's "high-tech", information-based economy, literacy skills are a must. Even manual and service sector jobs often require a minimum of Grade 12 education. The IALS report summarizes the changes to the so-called "new economy" in this way:

"The emerging economy changes both the expectations and demands on the population. In this new context information is abundant. Those lacking the skills and opportunities to access, organize and use this information in novel ways are at a disadvantage." (Statistics Canada: 1995, p. 23)

All the students and instructors I interviewed recognize that literacy education is a very important step toward employment. Here are some of their comments:

Instructor: "(Literacy skills) are most necessary in any kind of job situation. There are very few jobs where you are not involved with people or having to read manuals or communicate with people."

Instructor: "(Literacy) is key. If students can't read and write well enough to meet what they see as as the necessary steps - which might be university or college or computer...or filling out the forms so that they can do their professional driving etc. Its key."

"I feel its better for us to get educated first because when I went out there trying to get a job I became really down and my self-esteem got worse, thinking: 'Nobody wants me - I'm useless'.. So I really found that coming to these classes made a big difference."

While illiteracy is a major impediment to employment, few would agree that it is the only factor. Other barriers exist as well, many of which are the result of structural disadvantages such as poverty and racism.