HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 1 LITERACY in Ontario Implications of Findings from IALSS 2003 Presented by Satya Brink, Ph.D. Director, National Learning Policy Research Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC April 2006

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 2 Key Questions What is the level of literacy proficiency in Ontario? How does Ontario compare to Canada, the provinces and other territories? How proficient are residents of Ontario in the different component skills? How is literacy performance distributed in the working age population of Ontario? How do age and education affect the literacy and numeracy performance? How does the performance of the French minority in Ontario compare to the performance of the English majority. How is literacy performance distributed in the labor force, immigration, occupations, industries and earning groups? What are the demographic characteristics of people with low literacy proficiency and where are they located in Ontario? Introduction

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 3 Literacy proficiency: the ability to understand and employ printed information in daily activities, at home, at work and in the community. It is not about whether or not one can read but how well one reads. -Prose: The knowledge and skills needed to understand and use information from texts including editorials, news stories, brochures and instruction manuals. -Document: The knowledge and skills required to locate and use information contained in various formats, including job applications, payroll forms, transportation schedules, maps, tables, and charts. -Numeracy: The knowledge and skills required to apply arithmetic operations, either alone or sequentially, to numbers embedded in printed materials, such as balancing an account, figuring out a tip, completing an order form or determining the amount of interest on a loan from an advertisement. -Problem Solving: Involves goal-directed thinking and action in situations for which no routine solution procedure is available. The understanding of the problem situation and its step-by-step transformation, based on planning and reasoning constitute the process of problem solving. (Only four proficiency levels) 4 Domains, measure skills at five levels : Level points Level points Level points* Level points Level points * Proficiency level for modern economy and knowledge-based society Introduction

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 4 Background information of importance for IALSS results: Ontario Total population (2003) 12,259,600 Population/square km 12 app. Population 15-64(2005) 8,656,300 Population 65 and over (2005) 1,608,700 Immigrant population (2001) 3,030,075 Population by mother tongue (Census 2001) English only 7,965,225 French only 485,630 Non-official languages only 2,672,085 English and French 37,135 Eng. and non-off language 114,275 French and non-off language 8,000 Introduction Source: Statistics Canada Gender Distribution (15-64, 2005) Males 4,327,200 Females 4,329,100 Population 15 years and over by highest level of schooling (Census 2001) Less than high school 2,683,335 High school graduate 1,303,960 Trade Vocational cert. 287,540 College education 2,291,805 University 2,481,395

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 5 The number of persons (16 to 65) with low literacy rose from 8 m in 1994 to 9 m in 2003 though the percentage (42%) did not change. Source: IALSS, 2003; IALS, million 4.6 million 6.7 million 4.1 million 4.2 million 8.2 million 5.8 million 3.1 million Total: 18.4 million Total: 21.4 million * Differences at each level between IALS and IALSS are not statistically significant Change between 1994 and 2003, Canada IALSIALSS

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 6 Comparisons of provinces and territories based on average scores. Jurisdiction Y.T.Sas.Alta.B.C.N.S. N.W.T. Man.P.E.I.Can.Ont.Que.N.B.N.L.Nvt Yukon Territory Saskatchewan Alberta. British Columbia Nova Scotia Northwest Territories Manitoba Prince Edward Island Canada Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nunavut Prose, population 16 and older, 2003 Mean proficiency significantly higher than comparison jurisdiction No statistically significant difference from comparison jurisdiction Mean proficiency significantly lower than comparison jurisdiction Ontario performance

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 7 Proficiency varied across domains and population age in Ontario. ProseDocumentNumeracy Problem Solving* 16 and older to 65 years of age Source: IALSS, 2003 Ontario literacy performance Average proficiency scores, population 16 and older and population 16 to 65, Ontario, Below level 3 * Proficiency levels are defined differently for problem solving

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 8 Ontario had average scores at level 3 in document and prose, but at level 2 in numeracy (population 16-65). Province or TerritoryDocument literacy Prose literacy Numeracy Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Nunavut Territory Northwest Territory Yukon Territory Ontario performance Source: IALSS, 2003 Below level 3 in 3 domains Below level 3 in numeracy but not in literacy.

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 9 Yukon had the lowest proportion overall (31%) of prose literacy below level 3. In Ontario, 42% of the working-age population (16- 65) had an average prose literacy proficiency below level 3. Source: IALSS, 2003 Percent of population 16 to 65 at each prose level by provinces and territories, 2003 Ontario performance

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 10 Source: IALSS, 2003 Percent of population 16 to 65 at each numeracy level by provinces and territories, 2003 Yukon had the lowest proportion of working-age adults below level 3 in numeracy (41%). In Ontario, the proportion of working-age adults below level 3 in numeracy was 50%. Ontario performance

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 11 Significantly above Canadian average Not significantly different than the Canadian average Significantly below Canadian average The importance of language: although Ontario keeps a distribution similar to the Canadian average, the proportion of Ontarians at level 3 or above increases by 7% when we only consider people with French and/or English mother tongue. Ontario performance Distribution of the population aged 16 to 65 and whose mother tongue is English or French by prose level, Canada, provinces and territories Source: EIACA, 2003

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 12 Prose Level 1Level 2Total %Number% % Newfoundland and Labrador , , ,000 Prince Edward Island14.013, , ,000 Nova Scotia11.975, , ,000 New Brunswick16.685, , ,000 Quebec , ,700, ,500,000 Ontario16.21,300, ,100, ,400,000 Manitoba12.790, , ,000 Saskatchewan6.641, , ,000 Alberta9.7209, , ,000 British Columbia , , ,000,000 Yukon9.02, , ,000 Northwest Territory16.54, , ,000 Nunavut45.86, , ,000 Impact of low literacy in the population Total 8,849,000 Ontario performance

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 13 Impact of low numeracy in the population Source: IALSS, 2003 Total 10,681,000 Ontario performance Numeracy level 1Numeracy level 2Total %Number% % Newfoundland and Labrador , , ,000 Prince Edward Island , , ,000 Nova Scotia , , ,000 New Brunswick , , ,000 Quebec 20.01,026, ,697, ,723,000 Ontario 21.31,759, ,403, ,162,000 Manitoba , , ,000 Saskatchewan , , ,000 Alberta , , ,000 British Columbia , , ,233,000 Yukon 14.13, , ,000 Northwest Territory 22.06, , ,000 Nunavut 54.77, , ,000

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 14 IALSS 2003, years Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and numeracy proficiency average score in 2003, Canada and Provinces (population 16-65) Sources: IALSS 2003 and Statistics Canada Ontario performance

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 15 Source: IALSS, 2003 Good Poor The proportion of Ontario residents at levels 1 and 2 varied by 8 percentage points between literacy and numeracy. Per cent of population performing at levels 1 and 2 in IALSS, 2003 Ontario performance

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 16 Residents of Ontario did not have average scores significantly different from the Canadian average in prose literacy at all levels of education. Mean prose proficiency scores by education level, population 16 and over, Canada, provinces and territories, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Ontario performance

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 17 In most jurisdictions, the majority of people aged had prose literacy at level 3 or above. In Ontario, about 60% of young people had prose literacy scores at level 3 or above. Distribution of proficiency level on the prose literacy scale for youth age 16-25, Canada, provinces et territoires, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Youth in Ontario

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 18 In Ontario, the majority of people aged 65 and above (1,608,700; 13% of the total population) had levels of proficiency below level 3 in prose literacy. Distribution of proficiency level on the prose literacy scale for those older than 65 years, provinces and territories, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Seniors in Ontario

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 19 Source : IALSS, 2003 In Canada, average prose literacy scores decreased with age. In Ontario, the populations aged 16-25, and had average prose scores at level 3. Performance by age, Ontario

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 20 1,3m 2,1m 3,2m 1,6m 8,3m 4,2m 8,2m 5,8m 3,1m 21,4m Number of people by proficiency level Source: IALSS, 2003 About 3,4 million residents of Ontario scored below level 3 in prose literacy.

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 21 Principal characteristics of people at levels 1 and 2 in prose literacy in Ontario (population 16 to 65). Level 1 1,3 million 61% (817,000) were immigrants 54% were male and 46% were female 62% were employed 9% were unemployed Education: –46% had not completed high school education –32% had completed high school education –22% had completed postsecondary education Mother tongue: –40% English –4% French –55% others Level 2 2,1 millions 33% (747,000) were immigrants 52% were male and 48% were female 72% were employed 9% were unemployed Education: –25% had not completed high school education –36% had completed high school education –39% had completed postsecondary education Mother tongue : –65% English –5% French –30% others Source: IALSS, 2003 Low literacy scores in Ontario

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 22 In Ontario, 64% of Francophones chose to be evaluated in English (population 16 and above). Half of Francophones outside Quebec who wrote the exam in English did not reach level 3 in prose literacy. On the other hand, 62% of Francophones evaluated in French did not reach level 3 French Minority in Ontario Outside Quebec, about 65% of Francophones chose to be evaluated in English. In Ontario, 64% of Francophones were evaluated in English. In Canada, Francophones who were evaluated in English scored above Francophones who were evaluated in French Source: IALSS, 2003

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 23 In Ontario, 56% of people with French mother tongue had a literacy level below level 3. Distribution of the population according to mother tongue and prose literacy proficiency level, Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Canada, 2003 French minority in Ontario Source: IALSS, 2003

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 24 At all levels of education, Anglophones (outside Quebec) had higher average scores than Francophones (outside Quebec) in prose literacy. Source: IALSS, 2003 Average scores in prose literacy according to mother tongue and highest level of education completed, Canada without Quebec, population aged 16 and above, French minority in Canada Études universitaires

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 25 In Ontario, in prose literacy, Anglophones performed better than Francophones at all levels of education. People with a mother tongue other than English and French performed below level 3 at all levels of education. Average prose literacy proficiency scores according to mother tongue and highest level of education completed, population of Ontario 16-65, Source: EIACA 2003 * Note that the estimated average scores for the group ‘English and French’ are not precise because of the small number of observations. French minority in Ontario

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 26 Sub-populations – Aboriginals In Manitoba and in Saskatchewan, the proficiency level in prose literacy of urban aboriginals was inferior by close to 10% to the level of proficiency of non-aboriginals. Comparative distributions of prose literacy proficiency by level, per cent of Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal populations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, aged 16 and over, 2003 Source : IALSS, 2003.

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 27 Over half of the Aboriginal people in the Yukon, 69 % of the Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories and 88 % of Inuit in Nunavut scored below level 3 in prose literacy Comparative distributions of prose literacy proficiency by level, per cent of Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal populations in the Northern Territories, aged 16 and over, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Subgroups – Aboriginal people

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 28 62% of those at level 1 and 73% of those at level 2 in Ontario were employed. Source: IALSS, 2003 Per cent of employed population in each document literacy level, population 16 to 65, Canada and Regions, 2003 Literacy performance and employment

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 29 Source: IALSS 2003 Literacy performance and employment In Ontario, unemployed people and people not in the labour force scored on average at level 2 in prose literacy, while employed people scored on average at level 3.

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 30 Canada IndustriesLevel 1Level 2 Manufacturing445,000696,000 Trade, finance, insurance, real estate and Leasing 325,000951,000 Accommodation and food services 189,000323,000 Construction158,000287,000 Health care and social assistance 140,000409,000 Source: IALSS, 2003 (Population 16-65) Low literacy and employment Total: Persons with low prose literacy were concentrated among certain industries, Canada and Ontario. 1,257,0002,666,000 *These industries employed roughly 65% of the workers at levels 1 and 2 Ontario IndustriesBelow level 3 Manufacturing504,289 Trade, finance, Insurance, real estate and leasing 491,530 Accomodation and food services 248,845 Health care and social assistance 215,864 Construction198,712

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 31 The majority of knowledge experts scored at Level 3 or above in prose literacy in the regions and the territories. Per cent of Labour force population at prose levels 3 and 4/5 by type of occupations, population 16 to 65, Canada and regions, 2003 Source: IALSS, Knowledge expert2Managers3Information high-skills 4Information low-skills5Services low-skills6Goods Literacy performance- Occupation

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 32 Workers in knowledge-related occupations tended to engage more often in writing at work than do low-skill information, services and goods production workers. Index scores of writing engagement at work on a standardized scale (centered on 2) by aggregated occupational types, labour force population, 16 to 65, 2003 Literacy performance- Occupation Source: IALSS, 2003 Legend Occupation Types 1 Knowledge expert 2 Managers 3 Information high-skills4 Information low-skills 5 Services low-skills6 Goods

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 33 All industrial sectors in Ontario had at least 40% of their workers at level 3 or above in numeracy. 1 Knowledge-intensive market service activities 2 Public administration, defense, education and health 3 Other community, social and personal services 4 High and medium-high- techonology manufacturing industries 5 Low and medium-low- technology manufacturing industries 6 Utilities and Construction 7 Wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants 8 Transport and storage 9 Primary industries Source: IALSS, 2003 Per cent of labour force population at numeracy levels 3 and 4/5, by type of industry, population 16 to 65, Canada and regions, 2003 Literacy performance- Industry

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 34 Canadians with higher average scores earned more ProseDocumentNumeracyProblem Solving Male Less than 20, ,000 to 40, ,000 to 60, ,000 and more ProseDocumentNumeracyProblem Solving Female Less than 20, ,000 to 40, ,000 to 60, ,000 and more Source: IALSS, 2003 Literacy performance-Labour force

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 35 Distribution of recent immigrant, established immigrant and native born populations by level of Prose performance, ages 16-65, Canada, 2003 Subgroups - Immigrants Source: IALSS, 2003 A signficantly higher proportion of immigrants had low literacy compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, and the proportion did not vary by their length of stay in Canada Canadian born 10 years or lessMore than 10 years

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 36 Source: IALS, 2003 The literacy performance of immigrants was higher among those with mother tongue the same as the language of test (population 16-65) Subgroups - Immigrants ProseDocumentNumeracy Problem solving Immigrant statusMean Canadian born Immigrants - mother tongue same as test language Immigrants - mother tongue different from test language

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 37 Regardless of their level of literacy proficiency, most immigrants were employed but were they under employed? Immigrants Canadian born Level 11,408,000 1,715,000 EmployedUnemployedEmployedUnemployed 893,000135,000 (10%)889,000227,000 (13%) Level 21,234,000 4,595,000 EmployedUnemployedEmployedUnemployed 856,000105,000 (9%)3,255,000381,000 (8%) Level 31,284,000 6,967,000 EmployedUnemployedEmployedUnemployed 966,00099,0005,329,000429,000 Level 4/5469,000 3,688,000 EmployedUnemployedEmployedUnemployed 360,00034,0002,949,000180,000 Source: IALSS, 2003 Literacy performance- Immigrants in Canada

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 38 A high number of immigrants at levels 1 and 2 proficiency in English or French have post secondary education. Immigrants Level 11,408,000 Less than HSHSPSE 567,000 (68.8%)467,000 (36.2%)374,000 (16.4%) Level 21,234,000 Less than HSHSPSE 169,000 (20.5%)423,000 (32.8%)642,000 (28.1%) Level 31,284,000 Less than HSHSPSE 77,000 (9.3%)309,000 (23.9%)898,000 ( 39.4%) Level 4/5469,000 Less than HSHSPSE --92,000 (7.1%)366,000 (16.1%) Total-- (100%)1,290,000 (100%)2,279,000 (100%) Source: IALSS, 2003 Literacy performance- Immigrants in Canada

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 39 In all provinces and territories there was a substantial difference between the participation rates in training of those with the lowest and highest levels of literacy. Source: IALSS, 2003 Per cent of population receiving adult education and training during the year preceding the interview, by document literacy levels, 16-65, Canada and regions, 2003 Literacy performance- Adult training participation

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 40 About 50% of workers participated in adult training in Ontario, the same as in Canada. Also a smaller proportion (22%) of workers took courses in Ontario compared to Canada (25%). Per cent of population receiving adult education and training the year preceding the interview, by type of participation, population 16 to 65, Canada, provinces and territories, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Literacy performance- Adult training participation

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 41 79% of Ontario residents had access to a computer at home compared to 76% of Canadians aged 16 to 65 years. Computer and Internet access at home Per cent of adults aged who report having access to a computer and the Internet at home, Canada, provinces and territories, 2003 Literacy performance-ICT Source: IALSS, 2003

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 42 Generally, 16 to 65 year-olds in poor health had lower average document literacy scores and older Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores by mean document literacy proficiency by age groups, Canada, provinces et territoires, 2003 Note : Orders the provinces and territories by the size of the difference in average document literacy between those in poor health and those in excellent health. Literacy performance- Health Source: IALSS, 2003

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate Less than high school Postsecondary Base group: Those with high school -Mother tongue English Source: IALSS 2003 Policy sensitive targets appear to be similar for Ontario and Canada. Improving Literacy in Ontario Mother tongue French Regression analysis. Mother tongue other than English or French

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 44 Geographic distribution of people at levels 1 and 2 in prose in Ontario (IALSS population 16-65). Source: IALSS 2003

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 45 Geographic distribution of people at levels 4 and 5 in prose in Ontario (IALSS population 16-65). Source: IALSS 2003

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 46 Geographic distribution of people at levels 1 and 2 in prose in Southern Ontario (IALSS population 16-65).

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 47 Geographic distribution of people at levels 1 and 2 in prose in Toronto (IALSS population 16-65).

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 48 Contact Information : Satya Brink, Ph.D. Director, Policy Research Learning Policy Directorate Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Place du Portage, Phase IV, 3 Floor 140 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, QC K1A 0J9 Tel: Fax:

HRSD-Learning Policy Directorate 49 Invest in your future… Build on your strengths…