Supplemental Business/Labour Survey

“How would you rate the importance of basic skills and workforce education, on a scale of 5 to 1 (most to least), with regard to other issues you face in your organization? Why?”

Interestingly, employers were slightly more likely (74%) than union representatives (53%) to rate basic skills and workforce education as among the more important issues they face in their organizations.

Adjusting Our Vision

The following are our reflections on what all of the foregoing implies in terms of future action around literacy and learning in BC:

6) Fully Embrace and Accommodate the Complexity of Literacy Issues in Our Messaging

Clearly, there are complex causes and consequences of literacy for all segments of society and in all the different ways it manifests itself. While it is useful to simplify the issue under a common umbrella statement about “literacy and lifelong learning”, it should be recognized that the issue resonates with different people in different contexts and for different reasons. Accordingly, further to #5 above, we recommend that the development of discreet and targeted messages fully reflect, embrace, and accommodate the complexity of the issue so that everyone who needs to, understands and appreciates its importance.