National Adult Literacy Database

Premiers recognize that a skilled and productive workforce is critical to creating good jobs and driving economic growth. This is why provinces and territories design, deliver, and report publicly on training programs that reflect local labour market needs. These programs, including some funded in part by the federal government, achieve measurable outcomes and help a wide variety of workers get the essential training they need to find jobs.

Twenty-three community organizations from across Canada have received funding from the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund. This round of contributions will support programs focused on financial education and initiatives for seniors, women, newcomers, at-risk youth, women in conflict with the law, persons with disabilities, and Aboriginal people.

Job seekers in Western and Atlantic Canada are likely to benefit from a steady hiring climate from July through September, while they can still expect some opportunities in Ontario and Quebec. Although some regional Outlooks are experiencing slight decreases compared to the previous quarter, job seekers will likely continue to find prospects in the labour market as employers throughout Canada expect the hiring pace will be moderate through the summer.

Measures of Success (MoS) was a national research project of The Centre for Literacy that was designed to assess the outcomes of workplace literacy and essential skills initiatives beyond immediate end-of-program results. This is the executive summary of the final report for the project.

Interested in making your workplace more efficient? In this three-part series, workplace literacy and essential skills expert Sandi Howell talks about the benefits of skills training.

'State of the Literacy and Essential Skills Field' is an important and comprehensive report from the perspective of the Canadian Literacy and Learning Network (CLLN) and its national network of partners. Located in the NALD library, the document highlights the need for organizations with an interest in literacy and essential skills (LES) to look at issues through an LES lens.

The federal government is seeking applications for projects that will help seniors use their leadership abilities, energy and skills to continue to make a difference in their communities through the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The deadline for applications is July 5, 2013, in all provinces and territories except Quebec, where the process will close on September 6, 2013, to coincide with a provincial call for proposals.

Everyone needs to know where they’re going. David Scholz, chief marketing officer of Leger Marketing, a Canadian-owned research and strategic marketing firm, emphasizes why being clear is an important skill for leaders. “If no one is telling you, you’ll set your own direction; the result is 100 staff members going in 100 different directions.”

The Saskatchewan Employment Act (Bill 85) has passed third and final reading in the Legislative Assembly. The Act consolidates 12 pieces of labour legislation into one updated and comprehensive Act that protects workers, promotes growth and increases accountability.

Preliminary 2012 data and revised 2007 to 2011 data on provincial and territorial labour productivity and its related variables for the business sector by industry are now available.

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.

"I feel honoured and grateful to have worked with the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network Inc. since 2005. After much consideration, the time has come for me to step down and pass on the leadership of this worthy organization. I would like to thank the many colleagues I have met over the years for your support and challenges." -- Carol Vandale, Executive Director