1. LITERACY IN NOVA SCOTIA Implications of Findings from IALSS 2003
Presented by
Satya Brink, Ph.D.
Director, National Learning Policy Research
Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC
January 2006
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

2. Key Questions
Introduction
What is the level of literacy proficiency in English/French in Nova Scotia?
How does Nova Scotia compare to Canada, the provinces and other territories?
How proficient are residents of Nova Scotia in the different component skills?
How is literacy performance distributed in the working age population of Nova Scotia/Atlantic?
How do age and education affect the literacy and numeracy performance?
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 Nova Scotia?
Issues raised by Nova Scotia were included.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

3. * Proficiency level for
Introduction
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.
4 Domains, measure skills at five levels :
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)
Level points
Level points
Level points*
Level points
Level points
* Proficiency level for
modern economy
and knowledge-based
society
This is a reference slide with key information.
Definitions of the four domains are provided.
These literacy domains correlate with each other, but they are also distinctive competences.
Prose, document and numeracy domains are measured on a scale from and performance measured at five levels of proficiency where Level 1 is the lowest of proficiency and level 5 the highest
(see text box in slide above).
The scale for problem solving, however, used four levels where Level 1 is the lowest of proficiency and level 4 the highest. The threshold for the four levels are as follows: level 1 (0-250), level 2 ( ), level 3 ( ) and level 4 ( ).
According to experts, employers and government, level 3 is the level required for modern societies and the future knowledge based economies.
The survey measures competencies in the whole population, and does not target people with low literacy.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

4. Background information of importance for IALSS results: Nova Scotia
Introduction
Background information of importance for IALSS results: Nova Scotia
Total population (2003) ,300
Population/square km app.
Population (2005) ,300
Population 65 and over (2005) ,600
Gender Distribution
Males ,628
Females ,332
Population 15 years and over by highest level of schooling
(Census 2001)
Less than high school ,555
High school graduate ,335
Trade Vocational cert ,475
College education ,675
University ,860
Population by mother tongue
(Census 2001)
English only ,660
French only ,025
Non-official languages only ,510
English and French ,555
Eng. And non-off language ,660
This background data is useful for understanding the results for Nova Scotia
According to Statistic Canada, the total population of Nova Scotia was 936,300 in 2003, 652,300 individuals were between years of age.
30% of the population 15 and over has less than high school.
About 4% of Nova Scotia population speak French or English and French
Source: Statistics Canada
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

5. Change between 1994 and 2003, Canada
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.
IALS
IALSS
4.1 million
4.2 million
6.7 million
8.2 million
4.6 million
5.8 million
In Canada, there was no change in the percentage of persons (working age) with low literacy between 1994 and 2003, nor in the proportions of people at each level.
However, the numbers of people with low literacy has increased. Overall, the number of adults below level 3 increased from 7.7 million in 1994 to 8.9 million in 2003, an increase of 1.1 million adults.
This is because the working age population in Canada increased by 3m between 1994 and 2003.
The population increase was distributed among level 3 (1.5 m) and level 2
(1.2 m).
So at the current rates of investment and with the current programming, any improvements achieved are slower than population growth nationally. If we keep doing what we do now, the numbers of people with low literacy will increase at the rate of about 100,000 a year.
3.1 million
3.1 million
Total: 18.4 million
Total: 21.4 million
* Differences at each level between IALS and IALSS are not statistically significant
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003; IALS, 1994.

6. Comparisons of provinces and territories based on average scores.
Nova Scotia performance
Comparisons of provinces and territories based on average scores.
Prose, population 16 and older, 2003
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
This figure indicates whether the average scores of the provinces and territories differ from one another in a statistically significant way.
The provinces and territories are ranked by average prose scores from the highest to the lowest across the columns and down the rows.
The average score of each province and territory can be compared to every other province and territory, by reading the cell at the junction of the relevant column and row. If the cell is grey, the score is significantly higher than the score for the comparison province; if it is yellow, there is no statistically significant differences; if it is green, the score is statistically lower.
The prose literacy score for Yukon is higher than the average scores in all the other provinces and territories.
Five jurisdictions: Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, have average scores in prose that are about the same as the Canadian national average.
The average prose and document literacy scores for Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador are similar to one another; however, each of these provinces has a score lower than the Canadian average
The average prose score for Nunavut was lower than all other provinces and territories. The IALSS assessments were conducted in English or French however the mother tongue of over 60 per cent of respondents in Nunavut is neither English nor French but Inuktitut. Further, over half of the Nunavut respondents use Inuktitut on a daily basis (other aboriginal languages are also used regularly in Nunavut).
Mean proficiency significantly higher than comparison jurisdiction
No statistically significant difference from comparison jurisdiction
Mean proficiency significantly lower than comparison jurisdiction
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

7. Proficiency varied across domains and population age in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia literacy performance
Proficiency varied across domains and population age in Nova Scotia.
Average proficiency scores, population 16 and older and population 16 to 65, Nova Scotia, 2003
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Problem Solving*
16 and older
276
274
262
267
16 to 65
years of age
286
284
272
In most chapters, Statistic Canada national report presents data for the population 16 and over. For policy and programs purposes, however, statistics based on population 16 to 65 years of age are more useful.
The figure above shows that in Nova Scotia, proficiency varied among the four domains: prose, document, numeracy and problem solving for both population age groups.
The Nova Scotia population 16 to 65 years, performed on average at level 3 in prose and document and at level 2 in numeracy.
The Nova Scotia population 16 and older, performed on average at level 2 in the three domains : prose, document and numeracy reflecting lower literacy proficiency among seniors.
The scale for problem solving used four levels and the desired level is yet to be specified.
- Below level 3
* Proficiency levels are defined differently for problem solving
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

8. Nova Scotia performance
In Nova Scotia, the distribution of prose literacy proficiency is more favourable in the working age population compared to 16 and over, similar to most provinces and territories.
Per cent of population aged 16 and older and at each prose level, 2003
The distribution of prose literacy proficiency differs among the population 16 and older when compared to those 16 to 65 years of age.
The 2 bars for Nunavut are similar, because there are few people over age 65
In Saskatchewan, there is a substantial difference in the percentage of people at level 4 and 5 when the two population are compared.
In Quebec, there is a larger difference in the proportions at level 1, when the two proportions are compared
The distributions for Nova Scotia are similar to the distributions for Canada
16 and over
16-65
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

9. Nova Scotia performance
Nova Scotia has average scores in document and prose literacy at level 3 and at level 2 in numeracy (population 16-65).
Province or Territory
Document 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
269
281
284
270
273
279
283
294
290
234
280
293
271
282
286
275
289
288
232
296
257
272
262
220
Below level 3 in 3 domains
Below level 3 in numeracy but not in literacy.
Provincial averages for document and prose literacy are similar and correlated. However, numeracy performance was lower in every case.
Four provinces and territories have averages at level 2 on all three domains– Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec and Nunavut. However, except for Nunavut, the averages are very close to the cut off for level 3. In Nunavut average scores in document, prose and numeracy are at level 2.
5 provinces and territories have average scores for Numeracy at level 2 though their average scores for literacy are at level 3. These are Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba and Northwest Territory. (The UK for example, is putting a priority on numeracy.)
The differences matter if they are about a quarter of a level – 13 points. PEI 13 points: Nova Scotia 14 points; Ontario, 9 points; Manitoba 12 points; Northwest territory 11 points. This imbalance can affect the number of students opting for science and technical disciplines in post secondary education and the number of scientific and technical jobs in the economy.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

10. Nova Scotia performance
Yukon had the lowest proportion overall (31%) of prose literacy below level 3. In Nova Scotia, 38% of the working-age population (16-65) had an average prose literacy proficiency below level 3.
Percent of population 16 to 65 at each prose level by provinces and territories, 2003
In prose literacy the province or territory with the lowest proportion of its population below level 3 was the Yukon. About one-third of the Yukon’s population performed below level 3, similar to Norway.
Yukon was also the province with the highest proportion of its population with level 4&5 (29%), followed by British Columbia (26%), Saskatchewan (24%) and Alberta (23%).
Next are the provinces of Saskatchewan (33% below level 3), British Columbia (35% below level 3) Alberta (35% below level 3) which have slightly larger, yet very similar, proportions of their population below Level 3 in each of the three domains.
Nova Scotia (38% below level 3) , Manitoba (40% below level 3) , Ontario (42% below level 3), Northwest Territories (42% below level 3) and Prince Edward Island (43% below level 3) have proportions of their population with less than Level 3 proficiency that are about the Canadian average (41% below level 3).
Quebec (48% below level 3) , Newfoundland and Labrador (50% below level 3), New Brunswick (51% below level 3) and Nunavut (72% below level 3) have proportions of their population with less than Level 3 proficiency that are below the Canadian average (41% below level 3).
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

11. Nova Scotia performance
Yukon had lowest proportion of working-age adults below level 3 in numeracy (41%). In Nova Scotia the proportion of working-age adults below level 3 in numeracy was 50%.
Percent of population 16 to 65 at each numeracy level by provinces and territories, 2003
Yukon was the province with the highest proportion of its population with level 4&5 (29%), followed by British Columbia (26%), Saskatchewan (24%) and Alberta (23%). Yukon also had the lowest proportion below level 3 in numeracy.
The provinces of Saskatchewan (33% below level 3), British Columbia (35% below level 3) Alberta (35% below level 3) have slightly larger, yet very similar, proportions of their population below Level 3 in prose literacy.
Nova Scotia (38% below level 3) , Manitoba (40% below level 3) , Ontario (42% below level 3), Northwest Territories (42% below level 3) and Prince Edward Island (43% below level 3) have proportions of their population with less than Level 3 proficiency that are about the Canadian average (41% below level 3).
Quebec (48% below level 3) , Newfoundland and Labrador (50% below level 3), New Brunswick (51% below level 3) and Nunavut (72% below level 3) have proportions of their population with less than Level 3 proficiency that are below the Canadian average (41% below level 3).
Nunavut had the highest proportion (72%) of persons with numeracy literacy below level 3
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

12. Impact of low literacy in the population 16-65.
Nova Scotia performance
Impact of low literacy in the population
Prose
Level 1
Level 2
Total %
Number
Newfoundland and Labrador
18.8
70,000
31.6
119,000
50.4
189,000
Prince Edward Island
14.0
13,000
28.8
27,000
42.8
40,000
Nova Scotia
11.9
75,000
26.5
168,000
38.4
243,000
New Brunswick
16.6
85,000
33.8
173,000
258,000
Quebec
15.6
800,000
33.0
1,700,000
48.6
2,500,000
Ontario
16.2
1,300,000
26.0
2,100,000
42.2
3,400,000
Manitoba
12.7
90,000
27.0
200,000
39.7
290,000
Saskatchewan
6.6
41,000
26.4
162,000
203,000
Alberta
9.7
209,000
25.3
544,000
35,0
753,000
British Columbia
13.8
400,000
20.9
600,000
34.7
1,000,000
Yukon
9.0
2,000
21.9
4,000
30.9
6,000
Northwest Territory
16.5
26.1
7,000
42.6
11,000
Nunavut
45.8
3,000
72.0
9,000
Total % column gives a rough idea of the burden on the economy and on tax payers. Costs are calculated per person, and are different for each level.
The last column gives the level of effort required for literacy programming.
Nunavut, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec have a high proportion of their population with low literacy
Three provinces Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have 7 million of the total number of persons with low literacy (9m).
The provinces with the highest proportions do not necessarily have the highest numbers of people with low literacy since it depends on the size of the population.
Saskatchewan and Yukon, not only have a small population but they have a very low proportion (less than 10%) with level 1 literacy and between 20-25% with level 2 literacy.
Nunavut has a high proportion (72%) of the population with low literacy, but because of the small population, the number of adults is low (9,000).
A rough estimate of the total number of people with low literacy is roughly 9 million.
Nova Scotia had 243,000 people with low literacy, about 1/3 of them at level 1.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Total 8,849,000

13. Impact of low numeracy in the population 16-65.
Nova Scotia performance
Impact of low numeracy in the population
Numeracy level 1
Numeracy level 2
Total %
Number
Newfoundland and Labrador
26.8
101,000
34.3
107,000
61.1
208,000
Prince Edward Island
19.2
18,000
34.8
33,000
54.0
51,000
Nova Scotia
19.7
125,000
30.9
196,000
50.6
321,000
New Brunswick
23.1
118,000
37.2
191,000
60.3
309,000
Quebec
20.0
1,026,000
33.1
1,697,000
53.1
2,723,000
Ontario
21.3
1,759,000
29.1
2,403,000
50.4
4,162,000
Manitoba
18.2
131,000
32.1
230,000
50.3
361,000
Saskatchewan
11.8
73,000
30.2
186,000
42.0
259,000
Alberta
15.1
324,000
29.3
629,000
44.4
953,000
British Columbia
16.7
471,000
27.0
762,000
43.7
1,233,000
Yukon
14.1
3,000
26.4
5,000
40.5
8,000
Northwest Territory
22.0
6,000
29.0
7,000
51.0
13,000
Nunavut
54.7
22.6
77.3
10,000
The total % column gives a rough idea of the burden on the economy and on tax payers. Costs are calculated per person and are different for each level.
The last column gives the level of effort required for literacy programming.
Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Northwest Territory and Nunavut have over 45% of their population with low numeracy
Four provinces, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia have 9 million of the total number of persons with low numeracy (10.5m).
The provinces with the highest proportions do not necessarily have the highest numbers of people with low numeracy since it depends on the size of the population.
Saskatchewan and Yukon, not only have a small population but they have a very low proportion.
Nunavut has a high proportion (77%) with low numeracy, but because of the small proportion the number of adults is low (10,000).
A rough estimate of the total number of people with low numeracy is about 10.5 million.
In Nova Scotia, 300,000 people had low numeracy, 2/5 at level 1.
Total 10,681,000
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

14. Nova Scotia performance
The proportion of Nova Scotia residents at levels 1 and 2 varied by 12 percentage points between literacy and numeracy.
Per cent of adult populations performing at levels 1 and 2 in ALL 2003
Poor
Good
In all provinces and territories, the proportion performing below level 3 varied with the domain. Note: shorter bars denotes better performance.
Though a large proportion of Nunavummiut Had low scores in prose, document and literacy, the difference in the proportion between literacy and numeracy was low.
Yukon does better than any other provinces or territories all domains.
All provinces or territories performed worse in numeracy – a difference of about 10 points.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

15. Literacy proficiency by educational attainment, Canada, 2003
Nova Scotia performance
Nova Scotians with high school education score better in prose literacy than counterparts in 8 provinces and territories (16 and over).
Literacy proficiency by educational attainment, Canada, 2003
The value of a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy in achieving educational success is shown consistently in research studies
Across all four domains, higher levels of education are associated with higher levels of proficiency
In every province, the average score among university graduates was over 300 points. This was also the case for Nova Scotia.
High School graduates in Nova Scotia perform well, indicating that base competencies are developed well by the K-12 system.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

16. Nova Scotia performance Canada and jurisdictions, 2003
Nova Scotians have higher scores in prose Literacy at every educational level than the Canadian averages.
Mean prose proficiency scores by education level, population 16 and over,
Canada and jurisdictions, 2003
In Canada, individuals with a university degree score on average 79 points higher than those with less than a high school education.
In Nova Scotia, the gains are also very high, 78 points.
The gain between less than high school and high school is 40 points for Canada and for Nova Scotia.
Since literacy is a foundational skill, the major gain is with completion of high school.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

17. Youth in Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, as in most provinces and territories, the majority of youth have prose literacy proficiency at Level 3 or above.
Distribution of proficiency level on the prose literacy scale for youth age 16-25, Canada, 2003
Youth performance matters because this group has potentially the most time to contribute their knowledge and skills to their communities, their families, and the labour market.
Youth, defined as those aged 16-25, account for between 16 and 19 per cent of the population in most jurisdictions.
The exceptions are the Northwest Territories, where youth account for 21 per cent of the population, and Nunavut, where youth make up as much as 28 per cent of the population
In most provinces and territories, the proportion of youth with prose literacy proficiency at Level 3 or above is greater than the proportion of youth at Levels 1 and 2.
In Nova Scotia, about 39% of youth have literacy scores below level 3.
It should be noted that some on this age group are still in school.
The lower average score among the young in Nova Scotia is a concern as it is the prime age for PSE.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

18. Seniors in Nova Scotia
The majority of seniors (133,600, 14%) in Nova Scotia have low literacy skills.
Distribution of proficiency level on the prose literacy scale for those older than 65 years, provinces and territories, 2003
Seniors, defined as those older than 65 years of age.
They account for roughly 15 per cent of the population in all provinces. At less than five per cent, the proportion of seniors is much smaller in all three territories
The majority of seniors have relatively low literacy skills, which may constrain their participation in society.
In every province and territory, at least two thirds of seniors are at literacy Levels 1 and 2.
The proportion of seniors with scores below Level 3 is the lowest in the Western jurisdictions (the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan).
In Nova Scotia, over 80% had literacy levels below level 3. There are about 133,600 people age 65 and over in Nova Scotia.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

19. Performance by Age, Nova Scotia
In Canada, prose literacy scores decline with age; In Nova Scotia, the scores are slightly higher at every age though they decline.
Literacy proficiency declines with age. This remains the case even after controlling for educational attainment.
In Canada, prose average score for the age group was the highest (292 points). Canadians aged 65 and older had the lowest average score (221), showing a 71 average points difference among the two age groups.
In Nova Scotia, the highest average score (299) was among the age group.
The lowest average score (221), was among people aged 65 and older, showing a 74 average points difference.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

20. Number of people by proficiency level
Over 240,000 residents of Nova Scotia have prose literacy scores below level 3.
4.2m
124,000
267,000
8.2m
In Nova Scotia 240,000 people have prose literacy scores below level 3.
Among them 75,000 are at level one, which represent about 1/3 of people below level 3.
In Canada, 9 million people have prose literacy scores below level million were at level 1, which represented about 1/3 of people below level 3.
The Proportions at each level were the same as for Canada, with slight differences at level 1 and 3.
5.8m
168,000
3.1m
75,000
643,000
21.4m
SourceL IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

21. Literacy proficiency and employment
Those with higher literacy proficiency have a higher employment rate than those with low literacy.
In Canada the employment rate of those who have a prose proficiency at level 4 and 5 is over 80%. In comparison 57% of those in level 1 were employed.
Although the employment rate of those with high literacy proficiency is consistently higher, the employment rate of those with low literacy proficiency vary more across regions.
In the Atlantic, the employment rate of those with high literacy proficiency reached 76% compared to 47% among those with level 1 literacy proficiency.
The labour market favours those with high literacy.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS 2003

22. Literacy performance and employment
47% of those at level 1 and 60% of those at level 2 in the Atlantic were employed.
Per cent of employed population in each document literacy level, population 16 to 65, Canada and Regions, 2003
The figure above illustrates the relationship between document literacy proficiency and employment.
It is affected also by the labour market conditions in each province.
In Canada, individuals who have document literacy scores at Level 1 – the lowest level of proficiency – have a much lower employment rate[1] than do those at higher levels of proficiency.
About 57% of those at Level 1 are employed compared to over 80% of those who scored at Levels 4/5.
In Canada, there is a notable increase in the employment rate between proficiency Levels 1 and 2.
The relationship between document literacy proficiency and employability is also observed across the Canadian regions although the relationship appears stronger in some regions than in others. This relationship is very pronounced in the territories.
With the exception of the Prairies, the unemployed in all regions have average document literacy scores corresponding to Level 2 proficiency whereas the employed have average scores at Level 3.
In the Prairies, the average score for the unemployed, 276, is at the lowest end of Level 3 literacy – a likely reflection of the fact that Alberta and Saskatchewan are among the highest scoring jurisdictions in Canada.
[1] The employment rate for a particular group is the number of employed in that group expressed as a percentage of the population for that group.
Atlantic
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

23. Literacy performance and employment
In Nova Scotia, unemployed workers had an average prose score above level 3.
The average prose score of employed in Nova Scotia (292) is 15 points above the average prose score of those who are unemployed (277) and 19 points higher than those who are not in the labour force. The difference among the three groups is lower than Canadians (20 points difference in average among those employed and unemployed ).
Source: IALSS 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

24. Low literacy performance
Main characteristics of people at level 1 and 2
in prose IALSS in Nova Scotia
(population 16-65).
Level 1
75,000
4,500 were immigrants
56 % were male and 42% female
47% were employed
14% were unemployed
Education:
67% less than high school
23% had completed high school
10% had post-secondary education
Level 2
168,000
4,100 were immigrants
50% were male and 50% female
58% were employed
13% were unemployed
Education:
38% less than high school
35% had completed high school
27% had post-secondary education
In Nova Scotia about people had a prose literacy proficiency at level 1 and about 168,000 individuals were performing at level 2 in the same domain.
Among them, 47% of those in level 1 and 58% of those at level 2 were employed.
Among individuals in level 1 in prose literacy, 67% had less than a high school diploma compared to 38% of people in prose level 2.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

25. Low literacy and employment
Persons with low prose literacy are concentrated among certain industries, Canada and Nova Scotia.
(Population 16-65)
Canada
Industries
Level 1
Level 2
Manufacturing
445,000
696,000
Trade, finance, Insurance, real estate and Leasing
325,000
951,000
Accommodation and Food Services
189,000
323,000
Construction
158,000
287,000
Health care and social assistance
140,000
409,000
Nova Scotia
Industries
Trade, finance, Insurance, real estate and leasing
Manufacturing
Health Care and Social Assistance
Accommodation and Food Services
Public Administration
In Nova Scotia, over 20 % of the workers in level 1 and in level 2 are concentrated in these five industries:
-trade, finance, Insurance, real estate and leasing;
-manufacturing;
-health care and social assistance;
-accommodation and Food Services;
- public Administration.
Public administration and health care and social assistance are sectors which provide services to other residents of Nova Scotia and low literacy in these sectors, is a cause for concern.
Total:
1,257,000
2,666,000
*Number are suppressed, roughly 1/5 could be in these industries
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

26. Literacy performance- Occupation
The majority of knowledge experts score 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
Nationally, as well as in most of the regions, the average scores of knowledge experts, managers, and information skills professionals correspond to Level 3 proficiency in prose literacy, document literacy and numeracy.
The average scores of workers in services and goods-related occupations across these three domains are generally at Level 2.
For the nation and the six regions, the majority of knowledge experts score at Level 3 or above in prose literacy proficiency.
In fact, the proportion of knowledge experts at the highest level of literacy, Level 4/5, ranges from 36 per cent to 50 per cent.
In contrast, in all regions around half or fewer of workers in services and goods production occupations are at Level 3 or above in prose literacy.
The pattern is similar in the Atlantic.
Atlantic 1
Knowledge expert 2
Managers 3
Information high-skills 4
Information low-skills 5
Services low-skills 6
Goods
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

27. Literacy performance- Occupation
Workers in knowledge-related occupations tend 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
Legend Occupation Types
1 Knowledge expert 2 Managers
3 Information high-skills 4 Information low-skills
5 Services low-skills 6 Goods
This use of literacy and numeracy at work is important for retention.
Many occupations in the knowledge economy require frequent processing of information not only through reading and numeracy practices but also through writing.
The extent of writing engagement at work is strongly associated with the occupation of workers.
The pattern is similar in all regions, including the Atlantic, and suggests that workers in knowledge-related occupations, including knowledge experts, managers and high-skill information professionals, tend to engage more often in writing at work than do low-skill information, services and goods production workers.
High variation in goods and services industries, as shown by the length of the bar, with some doing a lot of writing ans others, very little.
Atlantic
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

28. Literacy performance- Industry
Knowledge intensive sectors had higher proportions of adults with document literacy proficiency above level 3. About 70% of knowledge intensive industry workers in the Atlantic had proficiency levels above level 3.
Per cent of labour force populations (16-65) at document literacy Levels 3 and 4/5, by type of industry, 2003 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
In Canada, the same two industries having higher average scores across the four domains also show relatively high proportions of workers at the highest levels of proficiency - knowledge-intensive market service activities and public administration, defence, education and health.
In these two sectors, at least one quarter of the workers score at Level 4/5 proficiency in prose and document literacy and in numeracy. The high and medium-high technology manufacturing sector also has more than one quarter of its workers scoring at Level 4/5 in document literacy and in numeracy.
Overall, at least one in ten workers in any industry sector scores at the highest level of prose, document and numeracy proficiency.
In fact, about 50 per cent of workers in low and medium-low-technology manufacturing industries; utilities and construction; transport and storage; wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurant industries; and primary industries score at Level 3 or above in prose, document,and numeracy proficiency.
In all regions, knowledge-intensive market services and public administration, defence and education industries have high proportions of highly proficient workers.
The pattern varies slightly with regional economics, a high proportion in the territories are in high and medium high technology manufacturing.
Atlantic
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS 2003

29. Literacy performance- Industry
At least 35% of all industrial sectors in the Atlantic had workers with proficiency levels above level 3 in numeracy.
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 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
High levels of numeracy proficiency are related to
1 Knowledge intensive market service activities
2 Public administration, defense, education and health and to a lesser extent, high and medium technology manufacturing
There are some regional variations, notably BC, which has higher percentages of workers with high proficiency in numeracy in several sectors compared to the Canadian average.
In the Atlantic, at least 35% of all industrial sectors had workers with proficiency levels (above level 3) in numeracy.
Atlantic
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

30. Those with higher average scores earn more
Literacy performance-Labour force
Those with higher average scores earn more
Prose
Document
Numeracy
Problem Solving
Male
Less than 20,000
270
274
271
267
20,000 to 40,000
266
262
40,000 to 60,000
289
294
290
284
60,000 and more
303
309
308
297
Female
269
255
286
280
275
305
323
319
307
There is a strong relationship between earnings and literacy proficiency.
More investigation will have to be conducted to explain why people earning between 20,000 and 40,000 dollars annually have lower proficiency on average than people earnings less 20,000 dollars, particularly males. This could be due to seniority in manufacturing jobs.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

31. Literacy performance- Civic engagement
There is a positive relationship between prose literacy and civic engagement
Civic engagement index by prose literacy level, population aged 16 and older, Canada, 2003
The percentages of those engaged and those not engaged at each prose literacy level, show a relationship.
The pattern displayed suggests that there is a positive relationship between prose literacy and civic engagement. About half of those with Level 1 prose literacy are engaged in civic activities.
This proportion rises across each literacy level, and reaches 80 per cent among those with Level 4/5 proficiency.
It is worth noting that, in this simplified index, a person who is “not engaged” is one who neither volunteers nor participates in any of the measured group or organizational activities.
Conversely, a person who is “engaged” participates or volunteers in at least one of the measured activities. It appears that higher levels of literacy proficiency are linked to higher levels of community involvement, through participation in organizations and volunteer activities.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

32. Literacy performance- Immigrants in Canada
Regardless of level of literacy proficiency most immigrants were employed but were they under employed?
Immigrants 
Canadian born 
Level 1
1,408,000 
1,715,000 
Employed
Unemployed
893,000
135,000
889,000
227,000
Level 2
1,234,000 
4,595,000 
856,000
105,000
3,255,000
381,000
Level 3
1,284,000 
6,967,000 
966,000
99,000
5,329,000
429,000
Level 4/5
469,000 
3,688,000
360,000
34,000
2,949,000
180,000
50% of immigrants in Canada performed below level 3 in prose compared to 37% of Canadian born.
Nevertheless, 66% of immigrants below level 3 were employed, compared to 67 % of their counterparts.
Similarly, 75% of immigrants above level 3 were employed, compared to 78% of Canadian born.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

33. Literacy performance- Immigrants in Canada
A high number of immigrants at levels 1 and 2 proficiency in English or French have post secondary education.
Immigrants 
Level 1
1,408,000 
Less than HS HS
PSE
567,000 (68.8%)
467,000 (36.2%)
374,000 (16.4%)
Level 2
1,234,000 
169,000 (20.5%)
423,000 (32.8%)
642,000 (28.1%)
Level 3
1,284,000 
77,000 (9.3%)
309,000 (23.9%)
898,000 ( 39.4%)
Level 4/5
469,000  --
92,000 (7.1%)
366,000 (16.1%)
 Total
-- (100%)
1,290,000 (100%)
2,279,000 (100%)
This slide provide some information about the distribution of immigrants by their education at each of the literacy proficiency levels. Please note that the percentages add vertically, (that is, for example, the literacy levels among all those with less than high school) where the % distribution at each education level is provided among literacy levels.
There are differing patterns among the Canadian born and the immigrants. Among the Canadian born of working age there 21.5% with less than high school, 33.7% with high school and 44.7% with post secondary education, while among immigrants of working age, there are 18.7% with less than high school, 29.3% with high school and 52% with post secondary education. While at first glance, it would appear that we are improving our human capital stock, the picture provided by an actual test, the literacy assessment, indicates that because of low literacy, Canada may not be getting the full value from the immigrant human capital.
You can see that 44.5% or some 2.6m immigrants with post secondary education have literacy levels 1 and 2. This compares with about 23% or 1.6m of Canadian born at these low levels with post secondary education. The issue is not only an immigrant problem. While it is a much lower percentage and while the numbers are fewer, 1.6m Canadian born PSE graduates with low literacy is still a significant number % of immigrant post secondary gradates score at level 3,4 and 5. This number could be significantly raised in the future by pre-testing for language proficiency.
While over two thirds of high school graduates have low literacy among immigrants only about one third of Canadian high school graduates do.
About two thirds of the Canadian born ( 2.4m) with less than high school have literacy levels 1 and 2. Among the immigrants, fully 90% of those with less than high school have low literacy. The issue is how well this group (about 736,000) can learn a second language and how well they need to speak it for the kinds of jobs that are open to them.
Generally, we would expect the numbers to skew to the left in terms of education levels at literacy proficiency levels 1 and 2 (ie, larger numbers of less than high school, compared to post secondary education) and to skew to the right (ie, larger percentages and numbers of those with PSE compared to less than high school) at literacy proficiency levels 3,4 and 5.
Among the Canadian born, the expected results are present for levels 1 and for 3,4 and 5. But there are very large numbers at level 2 at all three levels of education and the pattern is less clear. Among the immigrants, the expected pattern is also present for levels1 and 3,4 and 5. But at level 2, there is a skew to the right with the highest numbers among those with post secondary education. Those with high school and post secondary education at level 2, (about 1m) are the most likely candidates for literacy training since they are already here.
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

34. Literacy performance- Adult training participation
In all provinces and territories there is a substantial difference between the participation rates in training of those with the lowest and highest levels of literacy.
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
In all regions, as proficiency levels increase, so too does participation in adult learning.
In all provinces and territories there is a substantial difference between the participation rates of those with the lowest and highest levels of literacy.
Participation rates among those with Level 1 proficiency in document literacy are at about 20 per cent compared to about 70 per cent among those at Level 4/5.
In the Atlantic, the greatest increases are between level 1 and level 2. This could be due to both the level of literacy and the type of job they hold.
Atlantic
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

35. Literacy performance- Adult training participation
About 53% of workers participated in adult training in Nova Scotia compared to 50% in Canada. 30% took courses, similar to AB, BC and YK.
Per cent of population receiving adult education and training the year preceding the interview, by type of participation, population 16 to 65, Canada and jurisdictions, 2003
A lifelong learning culture implies continuous learning throughout the working life and the years beyond.
Such involvement in learning is likely to help maintain competencies and to help acquire additional knowledge and skills.
The 2003 IALSS collected data on participation in various forms of adult education and learning during the 12 months preceding the interview.
In Canada, almost 50 per cent of the population aged 16 to 65 participates in some form of adult education and learning activities.
The proportion enrolling in organised courses is higher than the proportion participating in programs of study - 25 per cent compared to 16 per cent.
For the most part, participation rates in the jurisdictions are close to the national rate of 50 per cent.
The rate is well below the national average in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Nunavut and above the national average in British Columbia
Source: IALSS, 2003
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

36. Literacy performance-ICT
70% of Nova Scotia residents have 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 and jurisdictions, 2003
Three in four Canadians (76%) aged 16 to 65 years have access to a computer at home
Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon lead the provinces and territories, with computer access rates close to 80 per cent and Internet access rates at or slightly above the national average of 68 per cent
The Western provinces have traditionally been leaders in the penetration of high-speed Internet by cable
The Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, along with the Northwest Territories, have Internet penetration rates below 70 per cent.
Nunavut trails with just over one-quarter of its population (28%) connected to the Internet at home. This partly reflects the fact that many Internet access technologies are not yet available to certain rural or geographically remote communities
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

37. Literacy performance- Health
Generally, 16 to 65 year-olds in poor health have lower average document literacy scores.
Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores by mean document literacy proficiency by age groups, Canada and regions, 2003 1
16-65 2
66 and older
The link between health outcomes and years of schooling has long been recognised
Findings suggest that literacy is a significant factor in explaining disparities in health care received by adults in advanced economies
The IALSS data support research into more general aspects of the link between respondents’ perceived health and their literacy scores.
Health in the IALSS is measured using responses to a series of questions designed to estimate two scales: the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS).
For the analysis, the resulting PCS and MCS scale scores were grouped into national quartiles. This procedure assigned the boundaries for four analytical groups, each comprising 25 per cent of the population, and labelled “poor”, “fair”, “good” and “excellent”. Thus, the group with poor health is composed of the lowest scoring 25 per cent of the population, measured nationally, while those in the group with excellent health are part of the highest scoring 25 per cent.
Analysis of the average document score for each mental health grouping provides no support for a connection between mental health and document literacy.
In contrast, the results of an analysis of the physical health groupings suggest the existence of a relationship between physical health and literacy proficiency. At the Canada level, for both those aged 16 to 65 and those over the age of 65, literacy scores are lower for those who report being in poor physical health and literacy scores increase as reported health becomes more positive.
The average document literacy score of those aged 16 to 65 who reported poor health was 271 – corresponding to Level 2 proficiency. For those in excellent health, the average score was 288 – corresponding to Level 3 proficiency.
Generally, in most jurisdictions, 16 to 65 year-olds in poor health have the lowest average document literacy scores.
With the exception of in Nunavut and Nova Scotia, the difference in average scores is largest between these two health categories. In Nunavut, the largest difference in average scores is between those in poor health and those in fair health while in Nova Scotia the largest difference is between the poor and good health categories.
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.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS, 2003

38. Policy sensitive targets appear to be similar for Nova Scotia
Improving Literacy in Nova Scotia
Policy sensitive targets appear to be similar for Nova Scotia
and Canada.
Regression analysis.
* Not significant
Base group:
-26-45
-Those with high school
- Mother tongue English or
French
Policy issues appear to be similar for Nova Scotia and Canada.
Individual with less than a high school degree should be a major concern for policy makers. Their average prose score is more than 40 points below the average scores with a high school diploma, when controlled for age, education and mother tongue. One third of the labour force has not completed secondary education.
Individual living in Nova Scotia with a post-secondary education have an average score that is about 25 points higher than those with high school.
Mother tongue other than English or French
16-25
46-65
>HS
PSE
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate
Source: IALSS 2003

39. Low literacy performance
Geographic distribution of people at level 1 in prose in Nova Scotia (IALSS population 16-65).
Key areas are around the North and East of Cape Breton, the South shore and the area around Amhurst.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

40. Concentration of people at level 1 and 2 in prose literacy in Nova Scotia
Courses and programs can be opened in areas with a high number of people with low literacy.
The area around Sydney and Louisbourg, Halifax and Lunenburg, the coal harbour area, Windsor and Amhurst areas.
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate

41. 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:
HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate