National Adult Literacy Database

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.

"Organizations are more often bringing in project professionals to help with heavy workloads or provide specialized skills that don't exist internally," said Alicia Brum, branch manager of The Creative Group. "When freelancers are brought in to fill skills gaps, they can impart their knowledge on full-time employees, which is an added bonus for companies."

The Council of the Federation Literacy Award covers the entire spectrum of the field, including family, Aboriginal, health, workplace and community literacy and will be given to recognize the excellence of educators, volunteers, learners, and community organizations (including non-governmental organizations) and businesses in each province and territory. Nominations for 2013 must be postmarked by June 14.

Changes to the provincial immigration program will open doors for more families and skilled workers to immigrate to Nova Scotia. The province has a comprehensive immigration strategy to help attract new skilled labour into the workforce.

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.

The Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology is inviting all British Columbians to participate in government decision-making as it moves to implement enhancements to quality assurance across the post-secondary education sector.

Defined in the simplest terms, a spelling bee is a competition in which individuals are asked how to spell a variety of words. Yet to the people who organized and participated in a recent event at Blossom Park Educational Centre in Woodstock, Ontario, it was considerably more.

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.

Few workers get less sympathy than telecommuters. This is because they do not commute at all. However, from a legal perspective, although telecommuters or remote workers may be out of sight, they are not out of mind for employers.

A recent survey from Hays Canada, a national recruitment consultancy, has found that more than a quarter (27 per cent) of Canadian employers want to add "ability to work from home" as a benefit in 2013.

Brian Emmett joins Imagine Canada in the unique role of chief economist for the charitable and non-profit sector. Tasked with measuring the impact of the sector and bringing economic issues facing charities and non-profits to the forefront of public policy decision makers, Mr. Emmett will analyze and provide advice about related policies, programs and legislation.

The people of the Northwest Territories inhabit a region characterized by long, cold winters and a wide variety of languages and dialects. Based in Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories Literacy Council is active in promoting and supporting literacy and essential skills in the NWT's 11 official languages, which is "quite a challenge," according to its executive director and a member of NALD's Board of Directors.

Six Yukon music businesses have been selected by Yukon’s Film & Sound Commission to attend a three-day Music Summit, a component of Canadian Music Week, in Toronto March 21 to 23. “These local businesspeople have clearly demonstrated their commitment to building a career in Yukon’s music industry,” Economic Development Minister Currie Dixon said.

Nova Scotians who want to use the Gaelic language can apply for a bursary to study in Scotland. This is the second call for applications for the bursary program, which is administered by Gaelic Affairs and funded by the Scottish government. The deadline for applications is March 8, 2013.