Transcript en.copian.ca

LITERACY in Ontario
Implications of Findings
from IALSS 2003
Presented by
Satya Brink, Ph.D.
Director, National Learning Policy Research
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
April 2006
1
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Introduction
Key Questions
• What is the level of literacy proficiency in Ontario?
• How does Ontario compare to Canada, the provinces and other
territories?
• How proficient are residents of Ontario in the different component
skills?
• How is literacy performance distributed in the working age population
of Ontario?
• How do age and education affect the literacy and numeracy
performance?
• How does the performance of the French minority in Ontario compare
to the performance of the English majority.
• How is literacy performance distributed in the labor force, immigration,
occupations, industries and earning groups?
• What are the demographic characteristics of people with low literacy
proficiency and where are they located in Ontario?
2
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Introduction
Literacy proficiency: the ability to understand and
employ printed information in daily activities, at home,
at work and in the community. It is not about whether
or not one can read but how well one reads.
4 Domains, measure skills at five levels :
- Prose: The knowledge and skills needed to understand and use
information from texts including editorials, news stories, brochures
and instruction manuals.
- Document: The knowledge and skills required to locate and use
information contained in various formats, including job applications,
payroll forms, transportation schedules, maps, tables, and charts.
•Level
•Level
•Level
•Level
•Level
- Numeracy: The knowledge and skills required to apply arithmetic
operations, either alone or sequentially, to numbers embedded in
printed materials, such as balancing an account, figuring out a tip,
completing an order form or determining the amount of interest on
a loan from an advertisement .
* Proficiency level for
- Problem Solving: Involves goal-directed thinking and action in
situations for which no routine solution procedure is available. The
understanding of the problem situation and its step-by-step
transformation, based on planning and reasoning constitute the
process of problem solving. (Only four proficiency levels)
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
1 0 - 225 points
2 226 -275 points
3 276-325 points*
4 326 -375 points
5 376 -500 points
modern economy
and knowledge-based
society
3
Introduction
Background information of importance for IALSS results: Ontario
Total population (2003)
12,259,600
Population/square km
12 app.
Gender Distribution
(15-64, 2005)
Population 15-64 (2005)
8,656,300
Population 65 and over (2005)
1,608,700
Males
4,327,200
Immigrant population (2001)
3,030,075
Females
4,329,100
Population by mother tongue
(Census 2001)
English only
7,965,225
French only
485,630
Non-official languages only 2,672,085
English and French
37,135
Eng. and non-off language
114,275
French and non-off language
8,000
Population 15 years and over by
highest level of schooling
(Census 2001)
Less than high school
2,683,335
High school graduate
1,303,960
Trade Vocational cert.
287,540
College education
2,291,805
University
2,481,395
4
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: Statistics Canada
Change between 1994 and 2003, Canada
The number of persons (16 to 65) with low literacy rose
from 8 m in 1994 to 9 m in 2003 though the percentage
(42%) did not change.
IALS
IALSS
100%
22.3%
4.1 million
19.5%
6.7 million
38.6%
4.2 million
80%
60%
36.4%
8.2 million
40%
24.8%
4.6 million
27.3%
20%
16.6%
0%
3.1 million
14.6%
Total: 18.4 million
Level 1
*
Level 2
Level 3
5.8 million
3.1 million
Total: 21.4 million
Level 4/5
Differences at each level between IALS and IALSS are not statistically significant
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
5
Source: IALSS, 2003; IALS, 1994.
Ontario performance
Comparisons of provinces and territories based on
average scores.
Prose, population 16 and older, 2003
Jurisdiction
Y.T.
Sas.
Alta.
B.C.
N.S.
N.W.T.
Man.
P.E.I.
Can.
Ont.
Que.
N.B.
N.L.
Nvt
Yukon Territory
Saskatchewan
Alberta.
British Columbia
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories
Manitoba
Prince Edward Island
Canada
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and
Labrador
Nunavut
Mean proficiency significantly higher than comparison jurisdiction
No statistically significant difference from comparison jurisdiction
Mean proficiency significantly lower than comparison jurisdiction
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
6
Ontario literacy performance
Proficiency varied across domains and population
age in Ontario.
Average proficiency scores, population 16 and older and population 16 to 65, Ontario, 2003
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Problem
Solving*
16 and older
270
270
261
263
16 to 65
years of age
279
279
270
271
- Below level 3
* Proficiency levels are defined differently for problem solving
7
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
Ontario performance
Ontario had average scores at level 3 in document and prose,
but at level 2 in numeracy (population 16-65).
Province or Territory
Document
literacy
Prose
literacy
Numeracy
Newfoundland and Labrador
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
British Columbia
Nunavut Territory
Northwest Territory
Yukon Territory
269
281
284
270
273
279
283
294
290
290
234
280
294
271
282
286
273
275
279
283
294
289
288
232
280
296
257
269
272
262
269
270
271
284
281
279
220
269
283
Below level 3
in 3 domains
Below level 3
in numeracy
but not in
literacy.
8
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
Ontario performance
Yukon had the lowest proportion overall (31%) of prose literacy
below level 3. In Ontario, 42% of the working-age population (1665) had an average prose literacy proficiency below level 3.
Percent of population 16 to 65 at each prose level by provinces and territories, 2003
Level 2
Per cent
Level 1
Level 3
Level 4/5
100
80
60
29
24
26
23
39
42
20
19
20
20
21
19
15
14
14
42
41
39
38
37
38
37
36
35
40
20
40
43
8
20
0
20
40
60
80
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
un
av
ut
.B
.
N
N
.L
.
N
.S
.
M
an
i to
ba
C
an
ad
a
O
nt
ar
io
N
.W
.T
.
P.
E
.I.
Q
ue
be
c
N
.
Al
be
rta
B.
C
Sa
sk
.
Yu
ko
n
100
9
Source: IALSS, 2003
Ontario performance
Yukon had the lowest proportion of working-age adults below level
3 in numeracy (41%). In Ontario, the proportion of working-age
adults below level 3 in numeracy was 50%.
Percent of population 16 to 65 at each numeracy level by provinces and territories, 2003
Level 2
Per cent
Level 1
Level 3
Level 4/5
100
80
60
40
20
20
39
20
20
38
36
21
35
17
14
17
15
16
15
14
11
10
33
35
33
35
33
33
32
29
28
0
7
16
20
40
60
80
un
av
ut
.L
.
N
N
.B
.
N
.I.
P.
E
ue
be
c
Q
.W
.T
.
N
.S
.
N
.
Al
be
rta
C
an
ad
a
M
an
i to
ba
O
nt
ar
io
B.
C
Sa
sk
.
Yu
ko
n
100
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
10
Ontario performance
The importance of language: although Ontario keeps a distribution similar to the Canadian
average, the proportion of Ontarians at level 3 or above increases by 7% when we only
consider people with French and/or English mother tongue.
Distribution of the population aged 16 to 65 and whose mother tongue is English or French by
prose level, Canada, provinces and territories
level 2
Percent
level 1
level 3
levels 4/5
100
80
60
40
20
0
20
40
60
80
Significantly above
Canadian average
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Not significantly different
than the Canadian
average
-N
.
T.
.
N.
-B
Nu
na
vu
t
Q
ue
be
c
I.-
P.
É
.
.
N.
-É
Ca
na
da
-N
.-O
.
T.
O
nt
ar
io
an
it o
ba
M
Sa
sk
Yu
ko
n
be
rta
Al
C.
B
.
100
Significantly below
Canadian average
11
Source: EIACA, 2003
Ontario performance
Impact of low literacy in the population 16-65.
Prose
Level 1
Level 2
Total
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
Newfoundland and
Labrador
18.8
70,000
31.6
119,000
50.4
189,000
Prince Edward Island
14.0
13,000
28.8
27,000
42.8
40,000
Nova Scotia
11.9
75,000
26.5
168,000
38.4
243,000
New Brunswick
16.6
85,000
33.8
173,000
50.4
258,000
Quebec
15.6
800,000
33.0
1,700,000
48.6
2,500,000
Ontario
16.2
1,300,000
26.0
2,100,000
42.2
3,400,000
Manitoba
12.7
90,000
27.0
200,000
39.7
290,000
Saskatchewan
6.6
41,000
26.4
162,000
33.0
203,000
Alberta
9.7
209,000
25.3
544,000
35.0
753,000
British Columbia
13.8
400,000
20.9
600,000
34.7
1,000,000
Yukon
9.0
2,000
21.9
4,000
30.9
6,000
Northwest Territory
16.5
4,000
26.1
7,000
42.6
11,000
Nunavut
45.8
6,000
26.4
3,000
72.0
9,000
12
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Total 8,849,000
Ontario performance
Impact of low numeracy in the population 16-65.
Numeracy level 1
Numeracy level 2
Total
%
Number
%
Number
%
Newfoundland and
Labrador
26.8
101,000
34.3
107,000
61.1
208,000
Prince Edward Island
19.2
18,000
34.8
33,000
54.0
51,000
Nova Scotia
19.7
125,000
30.9
196,000
50.6
321,000
New Brunswick
23.1
118,000
37.2
191,000
60.3
309,000
Quebec
20.0
1,026,000
33.1
1,697,000
53.1
2,723,000
Ontario
21.3
1,759,000
29.1
2,403,000
50.4
4,162,000
Manitoba
18.2
131,000
32.1
230,000
50.3
361,000
Saskatchewan
11.8
73,000
30.2
186,000
42.0
259,000
Alberta
15.1
324,000
29.3
629,000
44.4
953,000
British Columbia
16.7
471,000
27.0
762,000
43.7
1,233,000
Yukon
14.1
3,000
26.4
5,000
40.5
8,000
Northwest Territory
22.0
6,000
29.0
7,000
51.0
13,000
Nunavut
54.7
7,000
22.6
3,000
77.3
10,000
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Number
Total 10,681,000
13
Ontario performance
Gross domestic
product
per capitaProficiency,
and numeracy
proficiency
GDP per
capita(GDP)
and Numeracy
2003
average
score
in 2003,
Canada and Provinces (population 16-65)
IALSS
2003,
16-65 years
55000
AB
GDP.per.capita
50000
45000
ON
40000
Canada
SK
NL
35000
BC
QC
MB
30000
NS
NB
PEI
25000
255
260
265
270
Numeracy
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
275
280
285
14
Sources: IALSS 2003 and Statistics Canada
Ontario performance
The proportion of Ontario residents at levels 1 and 2 varied by 8
percentage points between literacy and numeracy.
Per cent of population 16-65 performing at levels 1 and 2 in IALSS, 2003
50
43
38
49
42
43
40
33
35
35
42
31
Nf
ld
an
d
La
br
ad
or
P.
E
No
va .I.
Ne
Sc
w
ot
Br
ia
un
sw
ick
Q
ue
be
c
O
nt
ar
io
M
a
Sa
ni
to
sk
ba
at
ch
ew
an
Br
Al
itis
be
rta
h
Co
lu
m
bi
a
Yu
ko
n
Good
72
T
Nu
na
vu
Ca t
na
da
90
80
70
60 50
50
40
30
20
10
0
NW
Poor
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
15
Ontario performance
Residents of Ontario did not have average scores significantly
different from the Canadian average in prose literacy at all levels
of education.
Mean prose proficiency scores by education level, population 16 and over,
Canada, provinces and territories, 2003
Less than
Trade
high school High school vocational
College
Mean S.E. Mean S.E. Mean S.E. Mean S.E.
Newfoundland and Labrador 219 (3.4) 265 (4.0) 286 (3.8) 290 (5.1)
Prince Edward Island
230 (6.8) 280 (5.5) 279 (5.5) 303 (5.5)
Nova Scotia
241 (4.4) 281 (4.2) 288 (3.2) 305 (3.5)
New Brunswick
223 (4.6) 265 (5.1) 276 (7.1) 286 (4.5)
Quebec
227 (2.0) 262 (2.3) 275 (2.1) 290 (2.2)
Ontario
223 (4.9) 268 (3.9) 279 (3.9) 295 (4.1)
Manitoba
246 (5.5) 273 (3.4) 291 (4.4) 293 (3.4)
Saskatchewan
256 (6.2) 282 (7.0) 294 (3.3) 309 (4.3)
Alberta
241 (7.1) 279 (4.5) 290 (3.8) 295 (4.0)
British Columbia
239 (4.8) 277 (4.8) 290 (3.4) 306 (4.3)
Yukon
241 (7.5) 288 (5.6) 297 (4.5) 308 (4.7)
Northwest Territories
227 (6.3) 280 (7.6) 280 (3.6) 301 (4.0)
Nunavut
199 (6.1) 269 (7.8) 241 (8.5) 290 (12.3)
Canada
230 (1.8) 270 (1.8) 282 (1.7) 296 (1.8)
University
Mean S.E.
321 (3.9)
319 (7.9)
319 (4.2)
311 (7.2)
305 (2.5)
303 (3.1)
312 (4.4)
336 (5.2)
319 (4.2)
316 (4.4)
326 (4.7)
324 (6.3)
311 (6.2)
309 (2.0)
16
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Youth in Ontario
In most jurisdictions, the majority of people aged 16-25 had prose literacy at level
3 or above. In Ontario, about 60% of young people had prose literacy scores at
level 3 or above.
Distribution of proficiency level on the prose literacy scale for youth age 16-25, Canada, provinces
et territoires, 2003
80
60
40
20
0
20
40
60
80
N
ew
ry
ta
uk
on
T
er
r
ito
lb
er
A
be
c
Q
ue
Y
as
ka
tc
he
w
an
a
bi
um
S
h
rit
is
fo
u
nd
l
B
N
ew
B
ru
C
ol
ns
w
ic
k
co
tia
S
io
ov
a
N
O
nt
ar
ba
an
ito
M
ra
do
La
b
d
an
an
d
E
ri n
ce
P
r
d
Is
ar
d
dw
tT
es
hw
or
t
N
la
n
rie
s
er
r
N
ito
un
a
vu
t
100
Level 2
Level 1
Level 3
Level 4/5
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
17
Seniors in Ontario
In Ontario, the majority of people aged 65 and above (1,608,700; 13% of
the total population) had levels of proficiency below level 3 in prose
literacy.
Distribution of proficiency level on the prose literacy scale for those older than 65 years, provinces and
territories, 2003
40
20
0
20
40
60
80
N
Level 2
Level 1
Level 3
Al
be
rta
ish
C
ol
um
Yu
bi
ko
a
n
Te
rr
ito
ry
Br
it
O
nt
ar
io
M
an
i to
ba
N
ov
a
Sc
Sa
ot
sk
ia
at
ch
ew
an
or
th
w
es
t
Te
rri
to
ri e
s
N
un
av
ut
Q
ue
N
ew
be
c
B
Pr
ru
i
n
ns
N
ce
ew
w
E
ic
fo
d
k
un
w
ar
dl
d
an
Is
d
la
an
nd
d
La
br
ad
or
100
Level 4/5
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
18
Performance by age, Ontario
In Canada, average prose literacy scores decreased with age. In Ontario, the
populations aged 16-25, 26-35 and 36-45 had average prose scores at level 3.
Average prose literacy scores by age group; Canada and
Ontario, 2003.
300
290
288
292
293
286
281
280
278
278
275
270
258
260
254
250
240
230
221
220
217
210
200
16-25
26-35
36-45
Canada
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
46-55
56-65
65+
19
Ontario
Source : IALSS, 2003
Number of people by proficiency level
About 3,4 million residents of Ontario scored below level 3
in prose literacy.
Population distribution of proficiency, population 16-65, Canada
and Ontario, 2003.
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
19,5 %
4,2m
19,5 %
1,6m
levels 4/5
38,6 %
8,2m
38,3 %
27,3 %
5,8m
26,0 %
2,1m
level 2
14,6 %
3,1m
16,2 %
1,3m
level 1
level 3
21,4m
Canada
3,2m
8,3m
Ontario
20
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
Low literacy scores in Ontario
Principal characteristics of people at levels 1 and 2 in prose
literacy in Ontario (population 16 to 65).
Level 1
• 1,3 million
• 61% (817,000) were immigrants
• 54% were male and 46% were
female
• 62% were employed
• 9% were unemployed
• Education:
– 46% had not completed high
school education
– 32% had completed high school
education
– 22% had completed
postsecondary education
• Mother tongue:
– 40% English
– 4% French
– 55% others
Level 2
• 2,1 millions
• 33% (747,000) were immigrants
• 52% were male and 48% were
female
• 72% were employed
• 9% were unemployed
• Education:
– 25% had not completed
high school education
– 36% had completed high
school education
– 39% had completed
postsecondary education
• Mother tongue :
– 65% English
– 5% French
– 30% others
21
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
French Minority in Ontario
In Ontario, 64% of Francophones chose to be evaluated in English
(population 16 and above).
•Outside Quebec, about 65% of Francophones chose to be evaluated in
English.
•In Ontario, 64% of Francophones were evaluated in English.
In Canada, Francophones who were evaluated in English scored
above Francophones who were evaluated in French
Half of Francophones outside Quebec who wrote the exam in
English did not reach level 3 in prose literacy. On the other hand,
62% of Francophones evaluated in French did not reach level 3
22
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
French minority in Ontario
In Ontario, 56% of people with French mother tongue had a
literacy level below level 3.
Distribution of the population according to mother tongue and prose literacy proficiency level, Quebec,
New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Canada, 2003
80
Level 2
Level 1
Level 3
Levels 4-5
60
40
20
0
20
40
60
80
English
French
New Brunsw ick
English
French
Quebec
English
French
Ontario
English
French
Manitoba
English
French
Canada
23
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
French minority in Canada
At all levels of education, Anglophones (outside Quebec) had
higher average scores than Francophones (outside Quebec) in
prose literacy.
Average scores in prose literacy according to mother tongue and highest level of education
completed, Canada without Quebec, population aged 16 and above, 2003.
English (outside Quebec)
French (outside Quebec)
350
330
310
290
270
250
230
210
190
Études
universitaires
170
150
Elementary school
or less
Postsecondary
Lower High School Upper High School High School, trade
or college education education without a
education
education
university degree
diploma
University degree
24
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
French minority in Ontario
In Ontario, in prose literacy, Anglophones performed better than Francophones
at all levels of education. People with a mother tongue other than English and
French performed below level 3 at all levels of education.
Average prose literacy proficiency scores according to mother tongue and highest level of education
completed, population of Ontario 16-65, 2003.
Average
400
286 309
257
300
235
274 298
257 276
326
239
202
274
200
100
0
English
French
English and French
Others
Mother tongue
Less than High School
High School
Postsecondary education
*Note that the estimated average scores for the group ‘English and French’ are not
precise because of the small number of observations.
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
25
Source: EIACA 2003
Sub-populations – Aboriginals
In Manitoba and in Saskatchewan, the proficiency level in
prose literacy of urban aboriginals was inferior by close to
10% to the level of proficiency of non-aboriginals.
Comparative distributions of prose literacy proficiency by level, per cent of Aboriginal and nonAboriginal populations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, aged 16 and over, 2003
80
60
40
Level 4/5
20
Level 3
0
Level 1
20
Level 2
40
60
80
Total
Canada
NonAboriginal
Urban
Aboriginal
Saskatchewan
NonAboriginal
Urban
Aboriginal
Manitoba
26
Source : IALSS, 2003.
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Subgroups – Aboriginal people
Over half of the Aboriginal people in the Yukon, 69 % of the
Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories and 88 % of
Inuit in Nunavut scored below level 3 in prose literacy
Comparative distributions of prose literacy proficiency by level, per cent of Aboriginal and nonAboriginal populations in the Northern Territories, aged 16 and over, 2003
80
60
40
20
Level 4/5
0
Level 3
20
Level 1
40
Level 2
60
80
100
Total
Canada
Aboriginal
NonAboriginal
Yukon Territory
Aboriginal
NonAboriginal
Northwest Territories
Inuit
Non-Inuit
Nunavut
27
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Literacy performance and employment
62% of those at level 1 and 73% of those at level 2 in
Ontario were employed.
Per cent of employed population in each document literacy level, population 16 to 65, Canada and
Regions, 2003
100
90
90
82
81
76
77
75
70
73
81
76
74
70
68
67
66
62
60
60
50
82
81
76
68
70
57
54
50
47
47
Atlantic
Quebec
Ontario
Prairies
British Columbia
Territories
Canada
Docum ent Literacy Dom ain
28
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
Level 4/5
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Level 4/5
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Level 4/5
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Level 4/5
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Level 4/5
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Level 4/5
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Level 4/5
Level 3
Level 2
40
Level 1
% Employed
80
81 81
Literacy performance and employment
In Ontario, unemployed people and people not in the labour force scored on
average at level 2 in prose literacy, while employed people scored
on average at level 3.
Average prose literacy by labour force status, Ontario and Canada
290
286
283
285
280
275
271
270
265
267
266
263
Not in the
Labour force
Unemployed
260
255
Employed
250
Ontario
Canada
29
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS 2003
Low literacy and employment
Persons with low prose literacy were concentrated among certain
industries, Canada and Ontario.
(Population 16-65)
Canada
Ontario
Industries
Manufacturing
Trade, finance,
insurance, real
estate and
Leasing
Accommodation
and food services
Level 1
Level 2
Industries
445,000
696,000
Manufacturing
504,289
951,000
Trade, finance,
Insurance, real estate
and leasing
491,530
248,845
323,000
Accomodation and food
services
Health care and social
assistance
215,864
Construction
198,712
325,000
189,000
Construction
158,000
287,000
Health care and
social assistance
140,000
409,000
Total:
1,257,000 2,666,000
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Below level 3
*These industries employed roughly 65%
of the workers at levels 1 and 2
Source: IALSS, 2003
30
Literacy performance- Occupation
The majority of knowledge experts scored at Level 3 or
above in prose literacy in the regions and the territories.
Per cent of Labour force population at prose levels 3 and 4/5 by type of occupations, population 16 to
65, Canada and regions, 2003
Level 3
Per cent
Level 4/5
100
80
60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Canada
Atlantic
Quebec
Ontario
Prairies
British Columbia
Territories
Regions and Occupation Types
1
Knowledge expert
2
Managers
3
Information high-skills
4
Information low-skills
5
Services low-skills
6
Goods
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
31
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Occupation
Workers in knowledge-related occupations tended to engage more
often in writing at work than do low-skill information, services and
goods production workers.
Index scores of writing engagement at work on a standardized scale (centered on 2) by aggregated occupational types,
labour force population, 16 to 65, 2003
25th Percentile
.95 Confidence interval (lower)
m ean
.95 Confidence Interval (upper)
75th Percentile
4.0
Legend Occupation Types
1 Knowledge expert
2 Managers
3 Information high-skills
4 Information low-skills
5 Services low-skills
6 Goods
Writing Engagement at Work Index
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
1
2
3
4
Canada
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
Atlantic
1
2
3
4
Quebec
5
6
1
2
3
4
Ontario
5
6
1
2
3
4
Prairies
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
British Columbia
1
2
3
5
6
Territories
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
4
32
Literacy performance- Industry
All industrial sectors in Ontario had at least 40% of their
workers at level 3 or above in numeracy.
Per cent of labour force population at numeracy levels 3 and 4/5, by type of industry, population 16 to 65,
Canada and regions, 2003
Level 3 Level4/5
Knowledge-intensive
market service activities
Public administration,
2 defense, education and
health
Other community, social
3
and personal services
High and medium-hightechonology
manufacturing
4
industries
1
80
70
60
% 50
Low and medium-low5 technology manufacturing
industries
40
6 Utilities and Construction
Wholesale, retail, hotels
7 and restaurants
30
8
20
123456789123456789123456789123456789123456789123456789123456789
Canada
Atlantic
Quebec
Ontario
Prairies
British Columbia
Transport and storage
9 Primary industries
Territories
Region and Industry type
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
33
Literacy performance-Labour force
Canadians with higher average scores earned more
Male
Female
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Problem Solving
Less than 20,000
270
274
271
267
20,000 to 40,000
266
270
267
262
40,000 to 60,000
289
294
290
284
60,000 and more
303
309
308
297
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Problem Solving
Less than 20,000
274
269
255
266
20,000 to 40,000
286
280
266
275
40,000 to 60,000
309
305
290
297
60,000 and more
323
319
307
309
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
34
Subgroups - Immigrants
A signficantly higher proportion of immigrants had low literacy
compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, and the proportion did
not vary by their length of stay in Canada
Distribution of recent immigrant, established immigrant and native born populations by level of
Prose performance, ages 16-65, Canada, 2003
Level 2
Level 1
Level 3
Level 4/5
80
60
10 years or less
40
More than 10 years
20
0
20
40
60
80
100
Native
Canadian
born
Recent
Established
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
35
Subgroups - Immigrants
The literacy performance of immigrants was higher among
those with mother tongue the same as the language of test
(population 16-65)
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Problem
solving
Immigrant status
Mean
Mean
Mean
Mean
Canadian born
280
278
269
273
Immigrants - mother tongue
same as test language
269
269
259
257
Immigrants - mother tongue
different from test language
234
238
235
230
Source: IALS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
36
Literacy performance- Immigrants in Canada
Regardless of their level of literacy proficiency, most
immigrants were employed but were they under employed?
Immigrants
Canadian born
1,408,000
1,715,000
Level 1
Employed
Unemployed
Employed
Unemployed
893,000
135,000 (10%)
889,000
227,000 (13%)
Level 2
1,234,000
4,595,000
Employed
Unemployed
Employed
Unemployed
856,000
105,000 (9%)
3,255,000
381,000 (8%)
Level 3
1,284,000
6,967,000
Employed
Unemployed
Employed
Unemployed
966,000
99,000
5,329,000
429,000
Level 4/5
469,000
3,688,000
Employed
Unemployed
Employed
Unemployed
360,000
34,000
2,949,000
180,000
37
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Immigrants in Canada
A high number of immigrants at levels 1 and 2 proficiency in English
or French have post secondary education.
Immigrants
Level 1
1,408,000
Less than HS
HS
PSE
567,000 (68.8%)
467,000 (36.2%)
374,000 (16.4%)
Level 2
1,234,000
Less than HS
HS
PSE
169,000 (20.5%)
423,000 (32.8%)
642,000 (28.1%)
Level 3
1,284,000
Less than HS
HS
PSE
77,000 (9.3%)
309,000 (23.9%)
898,000 ( 39.4%)
Level 4/5
Total
469,000
Less than HS
HS
PSE
--
92,000 (7.1%)
366,000 (16.1%)
1,290,000 (100%)
2,279,000 (100%)
--
(100%)
38
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Adult training participation
In all provinces and territories there was a substantial
difference between the participation rates in training of
those with the lowest and highest levels of literacy.
Per cent of population receiving adult education and training during the year preceding the interview, by
document literacy levels, 16-65, Canada and regions, 2003
80
60
% 40
20
0
Canada
Atlantic
Quebec
Level 1
Ontario
Level 2
Prairies
Level 3
British
Columbia
Territories
Level 4/5
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
39
Literacy performance- Adult training participation
About 50% of workers participated in adult training in Ontario, the same
as in Canada. Also a smaller proportion (22%) of workers took courses in
Ontario compared to Canada (25%).
Per cent of population receiving adult education and training the year preceding the interview, by type of
participation, population 16 to 65, Canada, provinces and territories, 2003
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
40
Literacy performance-ICT
79% of Ontario residents had access to a computer at home
compared to 76% of Canadians aged 16 to 65 years.
Computer and Internet access at home Per cent of adults aged 16-65 who report having access to a
computer and the Internet at home, Canada, provinces and territories, 2003
100
80
81
79
76
62
67
70
68
72
70
74
79
77
66
%
60
41
40
20
0
Canada
N.L.
P.E.I.
N.S.
N.B.
Que.
Ont.
Computer access
Man.
Sask.
Alta.
B.C.
Y.T.
N.W.T.
Nvt.
Internet access
41
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Health
Generally, 16 to 65 year-olds in poor health had
lower average document literacy scores.
Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores by mean document literacy proficiency by age groups,
Canada, provinces et territoires, 2003
Poor
1
16-65
2
66 and older
Fair, Good or Excellent
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1
2
Yuk.
1
2
N.W.T
1
2
Nun.
1
2
Alb.
1
2
N-B
1
2
Can.
1
2
Ont.
1
2
Sas.
1
2
Man.
1
2
B.C.
1
2
1
2
Nfld Lab Que
1
2
P.E.I.
1
2
N.S.
Note : Orders the provinces and territories by the size of the difference in average document literacy between
those in poor health and those in excellent health.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
42
Improving Literacy in Ontario
Policy sensitive targets appear to be similar for Ontario
and Canada.
Best options for improvement by points gained/lost, Canada
and Ontario
Canada
Regression analysis.
Ontario
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50
Base group:
-26-45
-Those with
high school
-Mother
tongue English
16-25
46-65
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Less
than
high
school
Postsecondary
Mother
Mother
tongue other tongue
than English French
or French
43
Source: IALSS 2003
Geographic distribution of people at levels 1 and 2 in
prose in Ontario (IALSS population 16-65).
44
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS 2003
Geographic distribution of people at levels 4 and 5 in prose in
Ontario (IALSS population 16-65).
45
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS 2003
Geographic distribution of people at levels 1 and 2 in
prose in Southern Ontario (IALSS population 16-65).
46
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Geographic distribution of people at levels 1 and 2 in
prose in Toronto (IALSS population 16-65).
47
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Contact Information:
Satya Brink, Ph.D.
Director, Policy Research
Learning Policy Directorate
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Place du Portage, Phase IV, 3 Floor
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, QC
K1A 0J9
Tel: 819-953-6622
Fax: 819-997-5433
[email protected]
48
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate
Invest in your future…
Build on your strengths…
49
HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate