Ontario is experiencing a
constricted labour market which means that there are more jobs available than
people to fill them. As a result, employers are hiring individuals who have
less than the desired level of skill and so are interested in potentially
working with adult literacy agencies to address skills gaps.
Also, the nature of skills
needed to perform effectively in the workplace have changed and continue to
evolve. Continuous learning is becoming an expectation of, and an asset for,
employees and job seekers alike.
As a result, adult
literacy agencies are increasingly being drawn into the world of providing
workplace literacy. This reality represents a change for many adult literacy
agencies that, historically, have welcomed all individuals who came to them to
seek service. Workplace literacy though often means that adult literacy
agencies seek out partnerships with employers who see upgrading needs among
their employees. Marketing to employers is very different than marketing to
employment and social service agencies. We will explore some of these
differences in this module.
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