subject: The Value Of Workplace Literacy Training [print this page] Lost time due to injury reduced by 41% and production wastage reduced by almost 40%. These are some of the findings from an analysis of companies who have implemented workplace literacy training. What each company has found is that literacy and numeracy training has been the main factor in the success of their productivity improvement initiatives.
Many business owners and managers dont realise that how initiatives to improve productivity, such as lean manufacturing, improving quality or customer service, require higher levels of employee numeracy and literacy skills.
Despite a workforce where almost everyone can read and write, low levels of workplace adult literacy are a major but under recognised problem. Workplace literacy is not simply about being able to read and write it is the ability to participate effectively in workplace processes and to communicate, analyse and do maths at a level relevant to continually changing demands at work.
Literacy skills are often overlooked when we describe job skills because to experienced operators and managers literacy and numeracy skills are so embedded in job tasks, they are no longer obvious. We expect adults to have all the literacy skills they need, but is that realistic in a world where market demands and technology are changing the way we work on an almost daily basis? The literacy skills of school leavers are higher than ever before, but higher levels of literacy, numeracy and communication are being demanded by industry today.
Over 40% of our workforce 1.1million employees - has levels of literacy that in many cases are insufficient to allow them to do their job properly or to keep up with changing workplace tasks. Improbable as the 40% figure may seem it comes from in-depth surveys of adult literacy, language and numeracy skills conducted in New Zealand and 11 other OECD countries.
Every one agrees that productivity improvements and a highly skilled workforce are crucial for New Zealand business and on the positive side, many businesses have introduced literacy training to their workplace. They report significant improvements in errors and wastage, reduced accidents and lost time injuries, improved communication and team work, better morale and retention and as a result, productivity.
More can be done if managers are aware of the problem. There is government funding to support workplace literacy and literacy resources, and assistance is available for employers.
