The Literacy, Welfare, and Work Preliminary Study set out to explore the perceptions and realities of a group of literacy workers and students in relation to education and employment, within the new context of 'Welfare Reform'. The research employed a holistic approach to this complex issue, examining both systemic and personal barriers, as well as positive education and employment opportunities that exist for students. A combined methodology of focus group interviews and a literature review allowed the research to place the experiences of individuals within the larger socioeconomic and political context.

The findings from this study are, as the title suggests, preliminary. Definitive statements and recommendations cannot be made at this time, based on the small sample population studied. However, it is possible to make some observations about emerging issues and trends that will be further explored in the next stage of the research: the LWW Longitudinal Research Project:

Literacy education is a very important factor in realizing employment and alleviating poverty:
Literacy instructors and students recognize that education is a crucial step to finding employment and breaking out of poverty. Literacy programs provide important opportunities for growth, both personal and academic. These skills in turn increase students' abilities to find and keep a job and to become more self-sufficient.

A number of barriers exist for students moving from welfare to work:
Instructors and students are keenly aware of the importance of education in the transition from welfare to work. However, they also realize that a number of personal and structural barriers make this shift very difficult. Barriers to education and employment include: poverty, family violence, poor health, lack of housing and child care, racism, and other forms of discrimination. In order to over come these difficulties students need sufficient time and support services which, in many cases, are lacking.

The relationship between education and work is complex:
Researchers also warn us that the links between literacy and employment are complex and cannot be dealt with in a reductionist manner (i.e literacy=work). The labour market situation is constantly changing and, while the "new economy" promises more jobs in the future, there is evidence that many of these jobs are of the part-time, low wage variety and that many people are still being left out of the employment picture. It has been noted that no amount of education and training will solve the problem of a lack of jobs.¹⁴

¹⁴ D'Amico, Debbie: "The Emperor's New Jobs: Welfare Reform, Unemployment, and Education Policy", Urban Anthropology, Vol. 25, No. 2