The OLC leads a Learning for Work strategy in Ontario, which highlights workplace literacy and essential skills as fundamentally important to a productive workplace, an engaged workforce and a prosperous Ontario.

As part of this strategy, OLC, in conjunction with business and labour groups and with the support of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, aims to provide effective workplace literacy and essential skills programming to address the needs of Ontario’s new economy.

Why Should I Care about Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills?

Employers who offer essential skill training see employees with more confidence, enhanced skills, improved performance, better able to adapt to change, more knowledgeable about their rights, and much more.

On a larger level, Canada’s ability to remain competitive on a global scale is dependent on the skills of its workers. Without the basic skills necessary to meet the increasing demands of complex workplaces and Ontario’s changing economy, workers, businesses and the economy will struggle.

OLC and Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills

The goal of OLC’s workplace literacy and essential skills initiative is to develop innovative training solutions that address employee skills such as writing, oral communications, document use, math and computer skills at work. OLC is also working to advise and inform government policy on the importance of Workforce and Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills.

Ultimately, OLC and its business, labour and literacy partners will identify the conditions in which employees and employers participate in workplace literacy and essential skills programming and their results in order to inform and support future workplace literacy and essential skills initiatives in Ontario and across Canada.

For more information on Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills and how to get involved, please contact John MacLaughlin, OLC Manager of Programs, Business and Development at john@on.literacy.ca or at 416-963-5787 x 24.

Please download OLC's information sheet on our latest WLES initiative. This information sheet is also available in French.

Partners in Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills:

• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
• Ontario Chamber of Commerce
• Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators
• CUPE Education Literacy Coordinator
• Ontario Federation of Labour
• Canadian Auto Workers
• Literacy Link Niagara
• Literacy Northwest
• ABC Life Literacy Canada
• Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
• Canadian Society for Training and Development
• Centre for Workplace Skills