Key Findings from the IALS Survey
from The Movement for Canadian Literacy
www.literacy.ca

The latest literacy study by Statistics Canada shows that millions of Canadians do not have the literacy skills they need to keep pace with the escalating demands of our society and economy. This loss of potential impacts on the social and e co nomi c well - b e i ng of individuals, families, communities and our country.

The Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (IALSS, 2003) sheds light on our current literacy challenges and also connects those challenges to some of Canada’s most pressing social and economic issues. The link is clear in this conclusion: "… investments in foundation skills would lead to improved levels of health, increased productivity, reduced social costs and higher growth".

• Four in ten working-age Canadians do not have the literacy skills they need to meet the ever-increasing demands of modern life.
• Among working-age Canadians, 3 million (14.6%) struggle with very serious literacy challenges. Another 5.8 million(27%) can work with print information but not well.
• More than half of Canadians do not have adequate numeracy skills.
• On average, Canadians score at the low end of level 3 on literacy tests—the level most experts say is necessary to function well in the knowledge based economy and society.