National Adult Literacy Database

Mentoring is an effective program to help newcomers find jobs that match their skills and talent. It is built on a simple foundation: connecting an internationally trained professional with their Canadian counterpart. But what is the impact?

Human resources directors at leading U.S. companies told a 2004 survey that up to a third of their employees could not write properly. But can HR directors write? -- Aïda Alaka, a U.S. law professor, wrote in a 2010 article in the Journal of Legal Education: “Many of my brightest students have, by their own admission, no grasp of the rules governing writing.”

Running a business or working from home offers many distractions, potentially leaving the home office cluttered. Here are a few of the most important areas and ways to organize.

As conversations about social finance and social innovation in areas of adult learning are proliferating across provinces and countries, a new paper offers some analysis and insights on possible applications to the fields of LES.

Each month NALD releases Library user statistics in a feature known as the Top 20 downloads/20 Plus téléchargés. The report examines the number of NALD Library documents, in both English and French, which are viewed and downloaded by visitors to the websites NALD and BDAA.

Look at any community college application list, and more often than not, you’ll find a sizable contingent of university graduates. The thought that a university degree is the ticket to instant career success is creating a backlash in Canada.

As of June 1, employment assistance services for EI-eligible clients in Newfoundland and Labrador currently run by most third-party service providers will be delivered through the Department of Advanced Education and Skills. This change in service delivery will mean a re-investment of approximately $14 million annually for programs and services to help people secure long-term employment.

Canadians with disabilities have a tremendous amount to offer employers, but they remain under‑represented in the workforce. That is why the Government of Canada, through Economic Action Plan 2012, is investing an additional $30 million in the Opportunities Fund to help more people with disabilities gain the hands-on experience they need to find jobs.

Pat Salt, a learning support strategist based in Calgary, has a new approach to learning that constitutes a major shift in thinking when it comes to essential skills. She presented her views at Made in the North, a unique pan-territorial forum for exploring effective approaches to adult literacy and skills development.

In her first jobs roundtable discussion with members of Ontario's Jobs and Prosperity Council, business leaders and young entrepreneurs, Premier Kathleen Wynne reiterated her commitment to create jobs and build a stronger economy and a fair society by ensuring our young people have the tools and confidence they need to succeed.

The second issue of Essential Skills Ontario's 2013 Essential Skills Bulletin Series is now available for free download on its website. PIAAC: Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments and the Survey of Skills Used at Work is the second of two bulletins that cover the highly anticipated international survey of adult literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills.

An innovative new learning and development pilot project has been announced to help Inuit build their skills and experience for potential future positions in the public service. The first group of participants is anticipated to begin their work placements in late May 2013.

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) believes that a nationally coordinated effort involving many stakeholders is required to improve the financial literacy of Canadians. CICA is planning to launch a new program in 2013 using its members to provide community-based financial education across Canada.

Each month NALD releases Library user statistics in a feature known as the Top 20 downloads. The report examines the number of NALD Library documents which are viewed and downloaded by visitors to the NALD website.

The Prime Minister's Volunteer Awards were created for two main reasons: to recognize exceptional contributions that individual volunteers, not-for-profit organizations and local businesses make to improve the well-being of families and their communities; and to highlight the best practices in community leadership that these outstanding volunteers have developed.