National Adult Literacy Database

Despite Canada’s strong showing in the face of a global recession, Canadian graduates are finding it tougher than ever to join the workforce.

Workers who experience a boost during a rough day tend to be less tired at the end of the day, even an extremely stressful one. There are five ways an organization can alleviate the effects of negativity at work, says an expert in human behaviour.

A simple first step is to ask exactly what restrictions are imposed in one’s own workplace. In some cases, raising the issue along with a reasonable case for employee rights might well ensure that an employer who hasn’t given the issue much thought will prove willing to allow workers to speak freely.

When heading out on vacation, turn on your “out of office” email manager informing people you are unavailable and whom to contact regarding urgent issues. Create an outgoing voice message with the same information. Then unplug.

Staff members at the PEI Literacy Alliance say essential skills are the basic skills needed to learn all other skills. They have compiled an essential skills tip sheet for family vacations.

SkillPlan, a leader in essential skills, is pleased to present these online workshops for professional development. The workshops offer practitioners ideas on how to use these resources in instruction and provide an opportunity to share ideas with colleagues.

Microsoft Live@edu provides the flexibility of Office Web Apps that include web-optimized versions of Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint. UNB students will now be able to access these essential tools anywhere, anytime, on their PCs or mobile devices.

With most e-learning courses, you can proceed at your own pace on your own time. You can review material during a coffee break, or spend time on the laptop while your spouse is engrossed in a television show you can’t stand.

A shortage of skilled trades workers is the next major crisis to hit the machine, tool, die and mould sector, said the vice-president of the Canadian Association of Moldmakers.

Canadians across the country have a new opportunity to recognize the exceptional contributions volunteers make in their communities. Nominations for the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards will be accepted until September 9, 2011.

This resource provides employers, trainers and educators, labour unions and other professional groups concerned with workplace skills development a starting point to actively incorporate informal learning into the learning toolbox of the Canadian workplace.

Volunteers in the John Howard Society’s literacy program provide one-on-one tutoring to inmates at the Winnipeg Remand Centre. The program aims not only to improve inmates’ reading, writing and grammar skills but also to help educate them on topics of interest including parenting, victim awareness and substance use.

The Government of Canada is taking action to address skills shortages so Canadians can train for jobs in a changing economy. There are significant shortages in many key industries including healthcare, IT and skilled trades, but as more industries take part in this new information-sharing strategy the list of employers seeking skilled workers will continue to grow.

The unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.4 per cent as the number of people participating in the labour market increased. Over the past 12 months, employment has grown by 238,000 (+1.4%).

The Centre for Skills Development & Training, through funding from HRSDC’s Office of Literacy and Essential Skills and in partnership with the Halton Industry Education Council, has developed educational video games targeted at young adults aged 15-30 to help enhance their employability.