Transcript Slide 1

IALSS 2003
Literacy and Labour Force
and HRSDC Implications of Findings
Part II
Presented by
Satya Brink, Ph.D.
Director, National Learning Policy Research
Learning Policy Directorate
November 30, 2005
1
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Introduction
•
•
•
•
•
•
Policy Research Questions
What is the level of literacy proficiency in
Canada across provinces and territories?
How is literacy performance distributed in the
labor force, occupations, industries and earning
groups?
Do Canadians at all proficiency levels train ?
Is literacy proficiency associated with ICT use?
Are health outcomes related to literacy
proficiency?
Is the degree of civic engagement affected by
literacy proficiency?
2
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Introduction
Measurement of adult competencies
International Adult Literacy
Survey (IALS)
• Conducted in 1994
• Domains:
Prose
Document
Quantitative
• Participating regions:
Atlantic, Québec, Ontario, Western
Canada (including British Columbia)
• In Canada, 4500 respondents aged
16-65 representing 18,450,260 adults
International Adult Literacy and
Skills Survey (IALSS)
• Conducted in 2003
• Domains:
Prose
Document
Numeracy (modified)*
Problem solving*
• Participating provinces:
All provinces and territories
• In Canada, 20,000 respondents age 1665 representing 21,360,683 adults
3
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
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.
- 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 .
- 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)
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Prose, document and
numeracy scale
•Level 1 0 - 225 points
•Level 2 226 -275 points
•Level 3 276-325 points*
•Level 4 326 -375 points
•Level 5 376 -500 points
* Proficiency level for
modern economy
and knowledge-based
society
4
Introduction
Indicators of Canadian performance
in national IALSS results
• Canadian and provincial standing
• Literacy performance in relation to:
- Employment
- Occupation
- Industry
- Earnings
- Adult training participation
- ICT
- Civic engagement
- Health
5
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Canadian performance
Percent of Canadian population (16 to 65)
at each prose literacy level, in IALS and ALL
IALS
100%
22.30%
IALSS
4.1 million
19.50%
4.2 million
80%
6.7 million
60%
38.6%
36.4%
8.2 million
40%
24.80%
4.6 million
27.30%
3.1 million
14.60%
20%
16.60%
0%
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 ALL are not statistically significant
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
6
Source: IALSS, 2003; IALS, 1994-1998
Canadian literacy performance
Canadian proficiency varied across domains and
population age
Average proficiency scores by labour force status, population 16 and older and population 16 to 65, Canada, 2003
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Problem
Solving
16 and older
272
271
263
266
16 to 65
years of age
281
281
272
274
- Below level 3
Source: IALSS, 2003
7
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Canadian literacy performance
The working age population (16-65) have higher average
scores than the population 16 and over
Comparisons of provinces and territories average scores in prose by population age 16-65 and 16 and
over, 2003
16-65
16 and over
Average Score
320.0
300.0
296
292
294
289
283
283
288
286
281
276
280.0
283
274
282
272
281
272
280
275
279
270
275
266
273
264
271
263
260.0
240.0
232
230
220.0
200.0
Yuk
Sask
Alb
B.C.
N.S.
Man P.E.l
Can NWT
Ont
Que
NB
Nfld
Lab
Nun
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
8
Canadian literacy performance
The distribution of prose literacy proficiency differs by age
of the population
Per cent of population aged 16 and older and 16-65 at each prose level, 2003
Level 2
Level 1
Level 3
Level 4/5
80
60
27
29
21
23
23
26
24
20
21
17
20
21
19
17
40
20
39
40
40
42
37
39
39
43
38
42
35
37
37
20
17
41
35
20
17
39
35
19
17
38
34
15
13
38
33
12
37
33
14
14
12
36
32
8
8
20
20
26
26
47
46
35
0
23
22
26
25
23
10
17
21
27
26
28
27
26
26
19
17
28
27
28
27
27
26
30
29
20
11
9
14
14
14
7
17
40
12
18
13
20
15
21
16
20
32
33
31
32
24
19
33
34
14
22
16
23
17
60
16-65
16 and over
80
t
N
.
.B
N
FL
D
N
Q
ue
P
E
I
O
nt
.
an
C
M
an
.
W
T
N
.
.S
N
as
k.
S
.
.C
B
lb
.
A
Y
uk
.
100
9
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Employment
Among Canadians, those who are employed have higher average
proficiency scores than those who are either unemployed or those who
are not in the labour force
Average proficiency scores by labour force status, population 16 to 65, Canada, 2003
290
286
287
278
280
270
267 266
278
Level 3
265 265
255
260
258
261 263
250
240
230
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Problem solving
Domains
Not in the labour force Unemployed Employed
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
10
Literacy performance- Employment
About 62 per cent of employed Canadians have average
document literacy scores at Level 3 or above
Per cent of labour force population by document literacy levels, population 16 to 65, Canada and
Regions, 2003
British
Canada Territories Columbia Pariries
Ontario
Quebec Atlantic
Level 1
Level 2
Level3
Level 4/5
Employed
Unemployed
Not in the labour force
Employed
Unemployed
Not in the labour force
Employed
Unemployed
Not in the labour force
Employed
Unemployed
Not in the labour force
Employed
Unemployed
Not in the labour force
Employed
Unemployed
Not in the labour force
Employed
Unemployed
Not in the labour force
0
20
40
60
80
100
%
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
11
Literacy performance- Employment
The average literacy scores of immigrants present in the
labour force was below level 3
Mean of PROSE by immigrant status and labour force status, age 16-65
Immigrant status
Labour force status
Mean
s.e.
Canadian born
Not in labour force
275
1.9
Canadian born
Unemployed
272
4.1
Canadian born
Employed
293
0.9
Established immigrant
Not in labour force
236
6.0
Established immigrant
Unemployed
246
6.7
Established immigrant
Employed
257
3.0
Recent immigrant
Not in labour force
244
5.4
Recent immigrant
Unemployed
248
13.7
Recent immigrant
Employed
256
3.5
Immigrant (combined)
Not in labour force
239
4.0
Immigrant (combined)
Unemployed
247
6.4
Immigrant (combined)
Employed
257
2.4
Recent immigrant: 10 years or less since immigration
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
12
Literacy performance- Employment
Average score of employed urban
Aboriginal people in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and employed Aboriginal
people in Yukon was well above level 3 in prose literacy
Mean scores with .95 confidence interval and scores at the 5th, 25th, 75th and 95th centiles on prose skills scale, by
labour force status, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations aged 16 to 65, 2003
Emplo yed
Unemplo yed
No t in labo ur
Non-aboriginals Yukon
Emplo yed
Non-aboriginals NWT
No t in labo ur
Emplo yed
Non-aboriginals Nun.
Non-aboriginals Sas k.
Non-aboriginals Man.
Non-aboriginal in Cnd
Canada
Aboriginals Yukon
Urban aboriginals Man.
Urban aboriginals Sas k.
Aboriginals NWT
Inuit Nunavut
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Scale scores
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
13
Literacy performance-Employment
Portrait of Canadians of working age (16-65)
Not in labour force
Unemployed
Employed
4,250,000
1,589,000
15,497,000
21,361,000
Age group
16-25: 30.7%
26-45: 21.8%
46-65: 47.5%
16-25: 28.5%
26-45: 48.4%
46-65: 23%
16-25:15.7%
26-45: 50.9%
46-65: 33.5%
Gender
Male: 38.4%
Female: 61.6%
Male: 48.2%
Female: 51.8%
Male: 53.4%
Female: 46.6%
Educational
attainment
Less high school: 37.0%
High school: 30.1%
Post-secondary: 32.9%
Less high school: 32.5%
High school: 31.9%
Post-secondary: 35.6%
Less high school: 15.5%
High school: 33.7%
Post-secondary: 50.8%
Immigrant
status
Canadian born: 77.7%
Established: 15.2%
Recent: 7.0%
Canadian born: 76.5%
Established: 13.7%
Recent: 9.7%
Canadian born: 80.2%
Established: 14.5%
Recent: 5.4%
Recent immigrants: 5 years or less
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
14
Low literacy performance
IALSS evidence can be used to make choices and
set priorities
6.3 million Canadians at levels 1&2
2.6 million immigrants at levels 1&2
IALSS Levels 1 & 2
9 million
Not in labour force
2.2 million
Incl. 652K immigrants
In labour force
6.7 million
Incl. 2.0 million immigrants
Employed
5.9 million
Incl. 1.7 million immigrants
Unemployed
848K
Incl. 240K immigrants
Top 60% of earners 3.7 million
Incl. 1.1 million immigrants
Bottom 40% of earners 1.8 million
Incl. 532K immigrants
15
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Literacy performance- Employment
Portrait of Canadians with prose literacy
proficiency below level 3
Below prose
level 3
Not in labour force
Unemployed
Employed
2,207,000
864,000
7,139,000
9 millions
Age group
16-25: 22.4%
26-45: 21.5%
46-65: 56.1%
16-25: 24.2%
26-45: 46.7%
46-65: 29.1%
16-25:14.9%
26-45: 47%
46-65: 38.1%
Gender
Male: 39.7%
Female: 60.3%
Male: 48.7%
Female: 51.3%
Male: 49%
Female: 51%
Educational
attainment
Less high school: 50.8%
High school: 28%
Post-secondary: 21.3%
Less high school: 43%
High school: 30.7%
Post-secondary: 26.3%
Less high school: 25.6%
High school: 37.5%
Post-secondary: 36.9%
Immigrant
status
Canadian born: 70.4%
Established: 20.4%
Recent: 9.2%
Canadian born: 73%
Established: 16.7%
Recent: 10.4%
Canadian born: 74.1%
Established: 19.2%
Recent: 6.7%
16
Recent immigrants: 5 years or less
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Employment
In Canada, about 57% of those at Level 1 are employed
compared to over 80% of those who scored at Levels 4/5
Per cent of employed1 population in each document literacy level, population 16 to 65, Canada and
Regions, 2003
100
90
% Employed
80
70
60
50
Atlantic
Quebec
Ontario
Prairies
British Columbia
Territories
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
Level 1
40
Canada
Docum ent Literacy Dom ain
17
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Occupation
For Canada and the six regions, the majority of knowledge
experts score at Level 3 or above in prose literacy
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
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
18
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Occupation
Workers in knowledge-related occupations tend 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
Atlantic
5
6
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
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
4
19
Literacy performance- Industry
In Canada, two industries stand out as having relatively high
average proficiency scores: knowledge-intensive market
service industries and public administration, defence,
education and health
Average scores in prose, document, numeracy and problem solving, population 16 to 65, by industry,
Canada, 2003
Knowledge-intensive market service activities
Public administration, defense, education and health
Other community, social and personal services
High and medium-high-techonology manufacturing industries
Low and medium-low-technology manufacturing industries
Utilities and Construction
Wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants
Transport and storage
Primary industries
Prose
mean
297
303
286
283
265
274
276
281
271
Document Numeracy
mean
mean
298
292
300
287
287
277
287
285
267
262
278
274
277
267
282
277
273
269
Problem solving
mean
288
291
279
277
261
269
271
274
267
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
20
Literacy performance- Industry
In general, knowledge intensive sectors have higher
proportions of adults with medium and high document literacy
proficiency levels
Per cent of labour force populations (16-65) at document literacy Levels 3 and 4/5, by type of industry, 2003
Level 3 Level4/5
Knowledge-intensive
1 market service activities
100
90
Public administration,
defense, education and
2
health
80
Other community, social
3 and personal services
70
High and medium-high4 techonology manufacturing
industries
% 60
Low and medium-low5 technology manufacturing
industries
50
Utilities and Construction
40
6
30
Wholesale, retail, hotels
7 and restaurants
8 Transport and storage
20
Primary industries
123456789123456789123456789123456789123456789123456789123456789 9
Canada
Atlantic
Quebec
Ontario
Prairies
British Columbia
Territories
Region and Industry type
21
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS 2003
Literacy performance- Industry
The high and medium-high technology manufacturing sector
also has more than one quarter of its workers scoring at Level
4/5 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
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
22
Literacy performance-Labour force
Those with higher average scores earn 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
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
23
Literacy performance- Earnings
There is a positive relationship between prose literacy
proficiency for both men and women at the national and
regional levels
Distribution of annual earnings by gender and prose literacy levels, population 16 to 65, Canada, 2003
40 000 to 60 000
20 000 to 40 000
Less than 20 000
60 000 and more
Men
$
Canada
Women
60 000 and more
40 000 to 60 000
20 000 to 40 000
Less than 20 000
0%
20%
40%
Levels 1/2
60%
Level 3
80%
100%
Level 4/5
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
24
Literacy performance- Earnings
There is a positive relationship between weekly earnings and prose
literacy proficiency for both aboriginal and non aboriginal population
Mean weekly earnings by prose skills level, aboriginal and non-aboriginal populations aged 16 to 65, 2003
Dollars
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4/5
No n-abo riginal in Cnd (excl.M an.Sask.&Terr)
No n-abo riginals in M anito ba
No n-abo riginals in Saskatchewan
No n-abo riginals in Yuko n Territo ry
No n-abo riginals in No rthwest Territo ries
Urban abo riginals in M anito ba
Urban abo riginals in Saskatchewan
Inuit in Nunavut
A bo riginals in Yuko n Territo ry
A bo riginals in No rthwest Territo ries
Canada
Off-reserve abo riginals in Canada (excl.YT and NWT)
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
25
Literacy performance- Earnings
In Canada, the labour market directly rewards both the observed skills and
other unobserved skills associated with schooling
Per cent increase in weekly earnings per increase of 10 percentiles on prose, document, numeracy and problem solving
scales, and per increase of additional year of schooling and work experience, adjusted three least squares model, labour
force population aged 16 to 65, 2003
Literacy
Years of schooling
Years of experience
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
Prose
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Document
Numeracy
Problem solving
Source: ALL/ IALSS, 2003 26
Learning a Living
Literacy performance- Adult training participation
In Canada, almost 50 per cent of the population aged 16 to
65 participated in some form of adult education and
learning activities.
Took program
Took course
Al
be
rta
Total participation
M
an
i to
Sa
ba
sk
at
ch
ew
an
Per cent of population receiving adult education and training the year preceding the interview, by type of
participation, population 16 to 65, Canada and jurisdictions, 2003
60
50
40
30
20
10
ut
Nu
na
v
Co
lum
Yu
bi
ko
a
n
No
Te
rri
rth
to
we
ry
st
Te
rri
to
ri e
s
ish
Br
it
nt
ar
io
O
ue
be
c
Q
La
br
ad
ce
or
Ed
wa
rd
Isl
an
d
No
va
Sc
Ne
ot
ia
w
Br
un
sw
ic k
Pr
in
Ne
wf
ou
nd
lan
d
an
d
Ca
na
da
0
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
27
Literacy performance- Adult training participation
In Canada, those who participate in adult learning activities
have higher average scores in all domains
Average scores in the four skill domains, populations aged 16-65 receiving adult education and training,
Canada, 2003
320
Average Score
304 303
300
298 297
296 297
287
294 296
290
285
288
276 275
280
271270
268 269
263 263
261260
260
255 254
240
220
Participated to
adult learning
Did not
participate in
adult training
Prose
Took program
Document
Numeracy
Did not take
program
Took course
Did not take
course
Problem solving
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
28
Literacy performance- Adult training participation
In all provinces and territories there is a substantial
difference between the participation rates 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
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
29
Literacy performance- Adult training participation
Informal learning is more or less an universal activity for Canadians.
Engagement in active learning is far less frequent and also varies more
among jurisdictions
Per cent of population aged 16-65 participating in active and passive modes of learning in the year
preceding the interview, by education level, Canada and regions, 2003
Passive mode
Active mode
Atlantic
Quebec
Ontario
Prairies
British Columbia
Territories
Canada
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
%
Source: IALSS, 2003
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
30
Literacy performance- Adult training participation
Canadians with post-secondary education participate more
in active modes of learning than do Canadians with a high
school diploma or less
Per cent of population aged 16-65 participating in active and passive modes of learning in the year
preceding the interview, by education level, Canada and regions, 2003
Active mode
Passive mode
100
80
% 60
40
20
1
2
3
Atlantic
4
1
2
3
Quebec
4
1
2
3
Ontario
4
1
2
3
Prairies
4
1
2
3
Bristish
Columbia
4
1
2
3
Territories
4
1
2
3
4
Canada
Legendand
Region
1 Less than upper secondary
Document Literacy Level 2 Upper secondary
3 Post-secondary, non university diploma
university diploma
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
4 Post-secondary,
31
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance-ICT
Prose literacy proficiency is associated with the use of
computers for task-oriented purposes
Use of computers for task-oriented purposes by prose literacy level, mean index scores on a scale
measuring the intensity of use of computers for task-oriented purposes, by prose literacy levels, population
aged 16 to 65, Canada, 2003
6
index score
5
4
3
1
2
3
4/5
Pros e lite racy le ve l
32
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance-ICT
Three in four Canadians (76%) aged 16 to 65
years have access to a computer at home
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 and jurisdictions, 2003
100
80
%
60
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
33
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance-ICT
Within Canada, attitudes toward computers and the
intensity of ICT use vary by province and territory
(population 16-65)
Perceived usefulness and attitude toward computers
Diversity and intensity of Internet use
Use of computers for task-oriented purposes
index score
6.0
5.0
4.0
Canada
N.L.
P.E.I.
N.S.
N.B.
Que.
Ont.
Man.
Sask.
Alta.
B.C.
Y.T.
N.W.T.
Nvt.
34
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Civic engagement
The higher the prose literacy levels, the more likely a
respondent is to engage in various forms of civic and social
activities
Civic engagement index by prose literacy level, adults 16 and older, Canada, 2003
Per cent
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
1
(None)
(Low)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
(High)
Civic engagem ent index
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4/5
35
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Civic engagement
There is a positive relationship between
prose literacy and civic engagement
Civic engagement index by prose literacy level, population aged 16 and older, Canada, 2003
Per cent
100
80
60
40
20
0
20
40
60
Level 1
Level 2
Not engaged
Level 3
Level 4/5
Engaged
36
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Source: IALSS, 2003
Literacy performance- Health
Generally, in most jurisdictions, 16 to 65 year-olds in poor
health have the lowest average document literacy scores
Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores by mean document literacy proficiency by age groups,
Canada and regions, 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
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
37
Conclusions
•
In Canada, irrespective of the domain assessed, those who are employed have
average proficiency scores higher than those who are either unemployed or who
are not in the labour force
•
About 62 per cent of employed Canadians have average document literacy scores
at Level 3 or above. In contrast, over half of unemployed Canadians have
document literacy scores below Level 3
•
Among those at levels 1 and 2 of prose literacy, about 850,000 are unemployed and
5.9 million are employed
•
A majority of knowledge experts, over 80%, score at Level 3 or higher in literacy
and numeracy compared to just over 40 % of those in services or goods
production occupations
•
Workers in knowledge-related occupations tend to engage more often in writing at
work than do low-skill information, services and goods production workers
•
In Canada and in all regions, in the nine industries analysed, at least 1 in 10
workers scored at level 4/5 in prose literacy, document literacy and numeracy
38
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Conclusions
•
Knowledge intensive sectors hire workers with higher average scores in the four
domains
•
Two industries, knowledge-intensive market service and public administration,
defence, education and health have 1 in 4 workers at the highest levels of prose
literacy, document literacy and numeracy (Levels 4/5)
•
Those with higher average scores earn more. Among workers earning less than
$20,000 annually roughly one in two men and women have Level 1 prose literacy
proficiency. Among those earning $60,000 or more, a significantly lower
percentage of women (8.5%) have level 1 prose literacy proficiency compared to
men (25.4%).
•
In most jurisdictions, about 50% of the population 16-65 participated in adult
learning activities in the preceding year
•
The participation in adult education and learning activities varies by literacy
proficiency levels in all provinces and territories. Participation rates among those
with level 1 proficiency in prose literacy is 20.8% compared to about 70% among
those at level 4/5.
39
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
Conclusions
•
Prose literacy proficiency increases with the use of computers for
task-oriented purpose
•
IALSS data suggest that the higher the prose literacy levels, the more
likely a respondent is to engage in various forms of civic activities
•
The average document literacy score of those aged 16 to 65 who
reported poor health was 271 (corresponding to level 2) and for those
in excellent health, the average score was 288 (corresponding to
level 3)
40
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC