National Adult Literacy Database

TriOS is a career college with several campuses across southern Ontario that attracts many students who change careers well into adulthood. The college's CEO says the average age of his students is 33 and many once had solid careers in the manufacturing sector but had to switch course as the economy changed.

"The reason that no one has found a good way to interview is that there isn’t one. Study after study shows this charade to which we are all so addicted is not much better than picking people at random. The only reason we persist is that we are all way overconfident of our ability to judge others." - Financial Times

Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance), has highlighted the Harper Government’s continuing commitment to further protect consumers by improving financial literacy throughout the country. He was speaking in Toronto at the International Economic Forum of the Americas: Toronto Global Forum.

Decoda's Workplace Wednesday connects you with resources that link literacy to business, industry and the workplace. Today’s resource is a review of essential skills literacy initiatives in Ontario.

As the country continues to experience skills shortages in key sectors of the economy, Randstad Canada describes the country's growing shortage of highly skilled labour as critical, predicting shortages in the manufacturing, automation and energy and utility industries.

ABC Life Literacy Canada has announced the 2012 Life Literacy Award winners in recognition of outstanding achievement in adult literacy and essential skills. Awards were presented in the categories of community literacy, workplace education, journalism and corporate excellence.

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 websites NALD.

We should never underestimate the important roles played by community learning centres across our vast country. One remarkable centre, located in what has been described as one of Canada’s poorest postal codes, is Vancouver’s Canucks Family Education Centre.

High school students in every region of Nova Scotia now have access to a challenging program that helps prepare them for good jobs and citizenship.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) has awarded the first annual Skills Award for Indigenous Youth to Baillie Redfern, an M.Sc. graduate student studying genome science and technology at the University of British Columbia.

This research study explores the effects of the Temporary Foreign Workers' Program with respect to skilled trades workers. The case study addresses issues of credential acquisition, education and training, and language difficulties.

This program will streamline the licensing process for internationally trained architects through a national online assessment tool and standard interview process.

"Workers with the knowledge and skills to get the job done are critical to economic development in this province,” says PEI Literacy Alliance Executive Director Catherine O’Bryan. "We want to encourage workers to take training in the essential skills so they can become more efficient, effective and adaptable.”

In the context of reaching more people in your community, see how you can learn more about the needs of local businesses by putting the essential skills into action.

Representatives from groups involved with literacy and essential skills across New Brunswick hope to raise awareness about the need for improved skills training in the workplace. Bill Stirling, CEO of NALD, says: “We are seeing a significant increase in the skills required even for entry level jobs throughout all sectors of the economy. Essential Skills Day provides a focal point for Canadian employers and workers to take stock of the learning culture in their workplace."