This project was conducted by the Canadian Literacy and Learning Network (CLLN) as a national labour market study of the literacy and essential skills [LES] workforce. It provides insights into the state of the LES field and the human resource issues facing it. The goal was to build a picture of the state of LES workers across Canada. The project surveyed instructors, coordinators, assessors, program managers, supervisors, and administrators to explore and develop a profile of their characteristics, knowledge, skills, educational background, and working conditions.
The project confirms the depth of the LES workforce, showing it to consist of highly educated, highly dedicated practitioners who value learner-centred approaches and possess significant psychological capital. Predominantly, they are intrinsically motivated and participate regularly in ongoing training and professional development (PD) thereby demonstrating the value of lifelong learning. The LES workforce faces considerable human resources challenges including high incidences of temporary employment, a large proportion of ageing practitioners, extensive overtime (unpaid for the most part), earning discrepancies, and a lack of access to benefits and pension plans. Adding to this situation is the constantly rising level and complexity of what it means to help learners be literate in Canada’s digital technology-based economy. The project results highlight impending challenges that must be addressed if the LES system is to maintain its current level of a skilled workforce.
Excerpts from publication.
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