National Adult Literacy Database

Now that summer is finally here, parents and children are excited about starting their summer vacation. But just because school’s out doesn’t mean we should take a vacation from learning. Research shows that children who don’t read over the summer lose some of the literacy skills they gained during the year and have a difficult time adjusting to school in the fall.

Co-op programs have been around for decades however they are not mandatory and are not offered at all universities. These programs, in which students alternate between full-time coursework and real-world employment, enable students to evaluate the market demand for their degree and skills while they still have time to course-correct.

A new nation-wide survey shows that Canadian small business owners are more than twice as likely to make a hiring decision based on word of mouth than by using online tools. The choices are usually based on word of mouth (friends, family, and a trusted advisor) - 68 per cent; online methods, such as job boards and tools like LinkedIn - 31 per cent; and outsourcing to an HR or recruiting agency - 8 per cent.

Following little change the previous month, employment in Canada rose by 95,000 in May, with most of the increase in full-time work. This employment gain pushed the unemployment rate down 0.1 percentage points to 7.1 per cent.

This Digital Snapshot of the Literacy and Essential Skills Field takes a look at how literacy coalitions and frontline delivery agencies are using digital tools. Conducted from January to March 2013, the research phase of the project included interviews and online questionnaire responses.

The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) is pleased to announce that it has launched an online directory devoted to case studies of best practices in workplace education. Known as Studio, the interactive and bilingual website is national in scope, crossing various industry sectors and geographic regions.

NALD is pleased to launch Modus, its new searchable and interactive directory of essential skills assessment tools. The innovative website includes free diagnostic tools as well as links to fee-for-service agencies. It allows users to browse tools by essential skill, location, audience and cost, when applicable.

Perhaps because of the relentlessly bleak climate, many students now accept that their path to a stable lifestyle may involve years pin balling their way up the ranks with a mixture of interning, contract work and networking. As a result, they have been calling for more work experience – like internships or field work – to be built into their education.

The Trucking Human Resource Sector Council Atlantic is receiving over $640,000 to study literacy and essential skills levels among employees. The study will allow the industry to better assess the impact of literacy and essential skills on safety, productivity and employment patterns. From this study, a toolkit will be developed to help employers address essential skills challenges in the workplace.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this short feedback survey regarding ABC Life Literacy Canada's and Natrel Baboo's joint project: Family Literacy Resources for New Parents. The survey must be completed before 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 24, 2013, for your chance to win a Family Literacy Day prize pack.

Following a decline the previous month, employment was little changed in April and the unemployment rate remained at 7.2%. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased 0.9% or 163,000, all in full-time work. The total number of hours worked rose by 1.5% over the same period.

Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program has been thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks. A report publishe by The School of Public Policy examines the effect of the program on the supply and demand of domestic labour. Author Kevin McQuillan finds there is no general labour shortage here in Canada that would warrant a reliance on foreign workers. Instead, he argues that Canada needs to scale back the program and build a skilled workforce from within.

Aboriginal peoples are gaining ground in Canada's population, but they are losing their languages. And their family structure is dramatically different than other Canadian families, with less than half of children living with both their parents. The rest are in single-parent homes, living with relatives or step-parents, or in foster homes. Indeed, half the foster children in Canada under the age of 14 are aboriginal, according to the National Household Survey.

A highly qualified and mobile skilled trades workforce is critical to Canada's productivity and competitiveness. By helping Canadians connect with available jobs and putting a priority on skills and training, we are ensuring continued economic growth, job creation and long-term prosperity.

The following strategic orientations emerged at the summit as key to helping Canada regain its leading edge in a competitive economy: addressing development of literacy and essential skills as a national priority; raising the quality of practice; and integrating ES assessment and upskilling in college technical programs.