Workforce Literacy Developing across the Continuum JaNel Jamerson, Director Flint & Genesee Literacy & Basic Skills Network

Illiteracy vs. Functional Literacy Illiteracy A person cannot read or write Functional Illiteracy An individual may have basic reading, writing and numeracy skills, but cannot apply them to accomplish tasks that are necessary to make informed choices.

Functional Illiteracy Those who are functionally illiterate may have difficulty: Reading a medicine label Reading a nutritional label on a food product Filling out a job application Reading and responding to correspondence in the workplace Filling out a home loan application Reading a bank statement Working out the correct change at a supermarket.

Functional Illiteracy Limits a person’s ability to engage in activities that require either critical thinking or a solid base of literacy and numeracy skills, including: Understanding government policies and voting in elections Using a computer to do banking or interact with government agencies Completing a higher education degree or training Analyzing sophisticated media and advertising messages, particularly for get-rich-quick scams Assisting children with homework.

Workforce Literacy Developing across the Continuum

Economic Repercussions Poor Literacy in the Workforce

Loss of Earnings Worldwide, people with literacy deficiencies earn 30%-42% less than their literate counterparts A high school graduate earns $267,000 more than a non- graduate in a lifetime For each high school graduate, there is an estimated savings of $127,000 in welfare cost in a lifetime.

Limited Employability They do not have the skills required to undertake further vocational education or training to improve their earning capacity.

Loss of Business Productivity Includes: Difficulty finding adequately skilled staff The cost of training staff The cost of fixing incorrect orders or processing refunds Resolving internal problems and issues arising from miscommunication or misunderstandings. If every adult without a high school diploma, in Genesee County, had graduated form high school, there would have been more than a $236 Million increase in the county’s earnings

Social Repercussions Poor Literacy in the Workforce

Crime Data shows that 60%-80% of prisoners have reading and writing skills at or below the level of functional literacy Those who are still illiterate upon release have a high probability of re- offending.

Mass Incarceration In African American Males, the rate of imprisonment increased by 430% between 1973 and 2010 Felony conviction and/or imprisonment reduces lifetime earnings and employment by 10%-30% Crime economies support withdrawal from the labor force and high school dropout

Lifetime Risk of Imprisonment by Age 35 for Males in 2010 (By Education Level)

Mass Incarceration & Single-Parent Families Growth of Single-Parent Families Mass Incarceration Declining Employ & Earnings

Single Parent Families & Literacy Nearly half of low-income families, with children 8 years and under, are headed by single-parents By the time low-income students reach kindergarten, it is likely that they will fall behind their mid-to-high income counterparts in language and pre-reading skills by months.

Health Parents with poor literacy are more likely to adopt poor nutritional and health practices in their homes This leads to higher rates of disease, accidents and other health issues, which in turn raises demand for medical services and causes job absenteeism

Annual Consumption of Public Health Insurance

Impact on Children Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

Impact on the Family Unit Parents with literacy deficiencies tend to have lower expectations and aspirations regarding education for themselves and their children. Parents with literacy deficiencies tend to have lower expectations and aspirations regarding education for themselves and their children. Families in poverty are often forced to place work before education Families in poverty are often forced to place work before education Parents with literacy deficiencies often lack the tools to support their student in learning Parents with literacy deficiencies often lack the tools to support their student in learning When adults improve their literacy skills, it has an effect on their children’s likelihood of strong literacy skills When adults improve their literacy skills, it has an effect on their children’s likelihood of strong literacy skills

Interventions Change Trajectory