Essential Skills. Skills to succeed

Transcription

1 Essential Skills Skills to succeed

2 Background Results from International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) Introduced a new concept of literacy continuum of skills from quite limited to very high. Literacy firmly linked to economic success and productivity. People scoring less than 3 out of 5 lacked the skills needed to transfer existing knowledge to new environments.

3 What are Essential Skills? 9 Essential Skills Reading Text Document Use Numeracy Enabling skills used in: Life Learning Workplace Writing Oral Communication

4 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) Level 2 Document Use In what year were the fewest number of people in the Netherlands injured by fireworks? Level 3 Document Use Describe the relationship between sales of fireworks and injuries due to fireworks.

5 Why Essential Skills? The Prime Minister s Expert Panel on Skills described three sets of skills as necessary for an effective labour market: Essential Skills- based on HRDC s Essential Skills Research Project. Technical Skills- occupation specific skill sets. Management Skills- e.g. cost control, budgeting.

6 Prime Minister s Expert Panel on Skills In sharp contrast with the technical skills picture, but equally critical to the competitive success of Canadian industry, is a persistent shortage of people who combine strong technical abilities with essential skills (e.g. communications and teamwork) and management skills (e.g. cost control and budgeting). Source: Stepping Up: Skills and Opportunities in the Knowledge Economy, 2000

7 Firms invest the least in basic skills Course Types as a % of Training Expenditures Basic Skills Survey respondents spent the least on basic skills (1.1% of overall training expenditures). The same amount was spent in Other Exec Dvlpt Interpersonal Business Practices Sales Customer Relations Product Knowledge Orientation OHS Professional IT Skills Technical Process Management Source: Conference Board of Canada, Training & Development Outlook, 2001.

8 Why Essential Skills? Addressing Essential Skills requirements speaks to key goals set in Knowledge Matters: to increase literacy rates, increase PSE participation, double the number of apprentices, number of adult learners increases by one million, businesses increase by one-third their annual investment in training per employee.

9 Benefits of Improving ES levels Lower unemployment and less reliance on social assistance. Higher income levels and improved career advancement. More social inclusion and improved standard of living. Increased labour force participation. Improved responsiveness to change for business.

10 Impacts of basic skills training on the workplace Confidence level 63 Employees Morale Promotability Quality of work Productivity Work effort Reduced error rates Retention % of employers reporting improvement Source: The Impact of Basic Skills Programs on Canadian Workplaces: Results of a National Study for ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation, 1997.

11 Grounds for concern 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% Reading text Document Use Numeracy 10% 5% 0% Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4&5 A significant portion of Canadians are at the bottom two levels in three skill areas. Source: Matching Canadians Literacy Attainment to Actual Occupational Requirements, May 2001

12 Fédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec A few years ago, we introduced new tool with alphanumeric control in an firm of 550 employees in the manufacturing sector. The union thought thirty or so employees would need assistance. An inquiry revealed that 178 employees experienced difficulties, at different degrees. Source: "Démystifier le rapport à l alphabétisation," Le Devoir, September

13 The workplace is demanding higher Essential Skills levels % 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% lowest Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4/5 Reading text Document Use Numeracy highest Occupations for which no post secondary education is necessary (e.g. cashier, security guard or labourer) increasingly require a minimum of level three. Source: Matching Canadians Literacy Attainment to Actual Occupational Requirements, May 2001

14 Demographics means fewer workers More than half of the workforce of 2015 is already in the labour market. 4.0% 3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 1.5% 1.0% Potential Labour Force Growth (%) By 2011 immigration will account for all net labour force growth. 0.5% 0.0% Source: Historical data from Statistics Canada; projection from Applied Research Branch, HRDC.

15 Source of lifelong learning

16 Here s what we are up to

17 The Essential Skills/ Workplace Literacy Initiative operates with four streams of activity Outreach Applications Synergy Research Building a national understanding of the importance of and ways to acquire Essential Skills while maintaining and building new partnerships. Providing funding support to the development of projects designed to enhance Essential Skills. Expanding synergies and partnerships to integrate ES tools into other HRDC / G of C programs. Undertaking research that expands the knowledge base while increasing ES profiles for higher level occupations.

18 Tools and Applications

19 Essential Skills Profiles Explain how each Essential Skill is actually used by workers in an occupational group. Generally includes: description of the occupation, example tasks, future trends, physical aspects, and attitudes needed. Currently there are 191 profiles; by 2005 there will be over 300 profiles.

20 Examples of Profiles Occupation Reading Document Numeracy Text Use (Typical) (Typical) (Typical) Admin. Clerks Bricklayer Dental Assistants Machining Operator Tour Operators Trappers & Hunters 3 3 3

21 Uses of Profiles Explore careers and check skill requirements. Help to develop learning plans. Create job descriptions. Develop workplace training programs.

22 TOWES Test of Workplace Essential Skills Assesses the reading, document use and numeracy skills of workers or job applicants. Uses authentic workplace documents and actual re-created tasks as source items for test item development.

23 Measure Up A self-assessment component of the TOWES web site. Adult learners use this tool to: explore job options. practice typical tasks. investigate career options. identify upgrading needs.

24 Applications of Working and Learning (AWAL) Links what teachers teach to what learners will need in the world of work using the lens of Essential Skills. Teachers develop hands-on learning activities that they can use in the classroom.

25 Ontario Skills Passport - Pilot Provides youth/ unemployed with documentation of their skills. Records which Essential Skills have been demonstrated.

26 Common Myths of Essential Skills You either have an Essential Skill or you don t. Employers don t have to be concerned about Essential Skills if their employees are already functioning well in their jobs.

27 Customized TOWES Results TOWES Score Worker Number

28 Common Myths of Essential Skills If you can hide it, a lack of Essential Skills will not impact your life. There are only and will only ever be 9 Essential Skills.

29 Common Myths of Essential Skills CBoC Employability Skills HRDC s Essential Skills Attitudes and Behaviours S K I L L S Complexity Scales Occupational Profiles Essential Skills are the same as Employability Skills.

30 We are also here today to seek your input on the best way to develop the Initiative Are you aware of any organisations that are using the Essential Skills framework in your region? Is there an Essential Skills Initiative that you feel would be useful for local/ regional office?