Improving Literacy

The benefits of improving literacy and numeracy skills

Benefits to New Zealand's economy

Literacy and numeracy have increased their importance because workplace requirements have become more complex. Improving workforce literacy will benefit New Zealand's economy by hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Benefits to businesses

Organisations report a range of benefits that arise from literacy training programmes, including:

Reduced…

• wastage
• errors
• accidents
• absenteeism

Improved…

• productivity
• employee skills
• staff retention
• teamwork
• communication

Benefits to individuals

Improved…

• job prospects
• confidence to speak up
• ability to complete training and gain qualifications
• employment prospects
• ability to participate in and contribute to local communities and society
• support for children's education

How to improve adult literacy and numeracy

Adult numeracy and literacy skills can be developed. There is no magic bullet, but solutions such as including numeracy and literacy training in workplaces and tertiary institutions will make a measurable difference.

Maintaining essential literacy and numeracy skills is a lifelong journey, so everyone needs to continually improve their literacy skills. An innovative, flexible, competitive economy with high employment requires higher levels of skills than are in place today.

Improving workforce literacy requires a broad approach so it is everyone's responsibility. You can make a difference.

Employers:

• Train supervisors to recognise the signs of low literacy.
• Make sure written documents and procedures can be easily understood.
• Check understanding when giving instructions.
• Understand the skills needed for job roles.
• Learn how to support employees to identify training needs.
• Build literacy and numeracy into all induction and training.

Training and education providers:

• Understand the literacy, language and numeracy skills employees, students and training course participants need (know the demands)
• Assess the literacy, language and numeracy skills employees, students and training course participants bring (know the learners)
• Build the literacy, language and numeracy skills of employees, students and training course participants at the same time as developing other skills (know what to do)
• Support trainers and tutors to undertake professional development in how to embed literacy, language and numeracy

Employees, students and training course participants:

• ask for help and training if you need it
• ask more questions
• talk to student advisors or learning support staff
• Contact Literacy Aotearoa www.literacy.org.nz  or English Language Partners www.englishlanguage.org.nz to see if they provide individual literacy support in your area .

See also the Department of Labour's Skills Highway website, www.skillshighway.govt.nz