National Adult Literacy Database

Following an increase the previous month, employment declined by 55,000 in March, all in full-time work. The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 7.2 per cent.

A new report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says Canada must upgrade the skills of its domestic workforce, including the essential skills that are critical for improved training outcomes and productivity growth.

Literacy and lifelong learning are important tools that give Canadians the skills necessary to understand how to read, communicate with others and engage fully and confidently in all areas of life. One of the goals of Adult Learners’ Week is to promote and facilitate easier access to these opportunities.

Canada's system of education and skills remains one of the best in the world, but it needs to do much better at matching what Canadians learn to evolving labour market needs. Canada ranks second only to Finland among 16 developed countries in The Conference Board of Canada's Education and Skills report card.

These awards were initiated by the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick in honour of Sheree Fitch, the organization's honorary patron. They are given to adult learners who are currently enrolled in a community-based literacy program in New Brunswick. The learner must be showing potential and a commitment to staying in the program.

If you're aware of an exemplary or innovative technology product, project or service that benefits the field of adult literacy and essential skills in Canada, the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) would like to hear about it.

Employment rose by 51,000 in February, following a slight decline the previous month. This increase was spread between full- and part-time work. The unemployment rate remained at 7.0% as more people participated in the labour force.

Canada Post has honoured the efforts of 24 deserving people from across the country with the Aboriginal Education Incentive Awards. The Awards, which were launched in 2004, acknowledge the hard work and drive required to continue education following an absence from formal schooling.

On March 6, Bay Street's sharpest minds will compete against one another to raise money for Frontier College, Canada's original literacy organization. Frontier College President Sherry Campbell is inspired by the continued growth of the Scrabble Corporate Challenge, now in its ninth year. "It's a wonderful reminder of the value that the corporate community places on literacy," she said.

The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada has announced a new retirement solution called "Pension in a Box," designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) offer their employees a workplace retirement plan that answers their needs. Pension in a Box is intended to help the millions of Canadians who work for an SME to save for the future, and it will also help SMEs in terms of employee retention and satisfaction.

The Talent Group Canada has been relocating talented, skilled workers, such as Class 1 & 3 drivers, Engineers, Welders, Heavy Duty Mechanics, and Framers from Ontario to positions with employers throughout Western Canada with great results for both the employer and new employee. Here are tips for organizations that will assist in making any inter-provincial relocation a success.

Following two months of gains, employment in Canada decreased slightly in January (-22,000). A decline in the number of people looking for work pushed the unemployment rate down 0.1 percentage points to 7.0%.

The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) takes this opportunity to extend its congratulations and best wishes to individuals in the field of literacy and essential skills who were recently chosen to receive Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

In honour of Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year reign as the British Monarch, 30 individuals have been selected to receive a Diamond Jubilee Medal for their contribution to improving literacy and skills levels of adult Canadians.

Employers can now apply for Canada Summer Jobs funding which will create thousands of job opportunities for students across the country, said Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. Funding is available to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses.