National Adult Literacy Database

This annual survey provides a look at Canadians’ opinions, beliefs and experiences with learning across the lifespan. The 2008 edition covers four learning domains: early childhood learning; structured learning at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels; work-related adult learning; and health-related learning.

Within each of the four domains, questions were designed to elicit information on a variety of topics, including child-care arrangements; access to post-secondary education; participation in work-related training; and sources of health-care information.

The survey was designed by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) in consultation with Statistics Canada, which administered the survey on behalf of CCL. A total of 5,488 Canadians aged 18 to 74 were surveyed by Statistics Canada. All respondents had previously participated in Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey. Canadians living in institutions, on reserves, or in the northern territories were not included in the sample.