National Adult Literacy Database

This document describes a project undertaken in 2010-11 to increase understanding and awareness of the concept of Literacy and Essential Skills (LES) among literacy and adult educators, employment service providers, employers, and workers or job seekers in British Columbia’s southern interior region.

The project used workshops to reach practitioners, and targeted marketing to reach employers in the area. Workers and job seekers were assessed, then offered a variety of options for improving their skills, including one-on-one learning support and facilitated group instruction.

Among results of the project are increased knowledge of the LES concept and LES resources for all the stakeholders from literacy/education and employment service communities, and the creation of an LES network to strengthen relationships between members of a variety of organizations.

The authors note that because of the project, 14 employers decided to use LES tools and resources for employee recruitment, retention, and skill development. They also point to increased levels of LES in reading, document use, numeracy, and computer use in 72 workers, learners, or job seekers.