The effect of literacy and essential skills on labour market outcomes for Canadian workers: A summary report

This summary research report1 explores the value of literacy and essential skills (LES) for workers and better quantifies the benefits of training. LES as a related and causal factor for higher wages in the labour market is investigated. Results for the general population are examined, in addition to sub-groups such as journeypersons, Aboriginal peoples, immigrants and persons with disabilities. Results are drawn from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), the 2006 census and various versions of the National Graduate Survey (NGS). Across all three data sets, the research highlights earnings outcomes as the main labour market benefit of LES. These positive research findings contribute to an evidence-based body of knowledge about the importance of LES and will inform future workplace training policies and outreach about the business case for LES training