National Adult Literacy Database

In this document, the author begins by pointing out that the aging of the baby boom generation means there will be a significant decline in the proportion of Canada’s population in the prime working years of 15 to 64. At the same time, the emergence of the knowledge economy demands that the proportion of the labour force with postsecondary education or training must increase dramatically to prevent an economic crisis.

Measures like increasing the total population through immigration and increasing the participation rates of those currently underrepresented in the labour force would help the situation but don’t provide a complete answer, the author says. The greatest need is a change in attitudes towards postsecondary education, and the recognition that the vast majority of young people must acquire postsecondary education or training.

The author goes on to discuss the need for major changes to postsecondary systems; the potential for creating new partnerships among parties that have not as yet worked together; and the ways communities can prepare for the changes they will confront.