HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 1 LITERACY IN NOVA SCOTIA Implications of Findings from IALSS 2003 Presented by Satya Brink, Ph.D. Director, National Learning Policy Research Learning Policy Directorate, HRSDC January 2006

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 2 Key Questions What is the level of literacy proficiency in English/French in Nova Scotia? How does Nova Scotia compare to Canada, the provinces and other territories? How proficient are residents of Nova Scotia in the different component skills? How is literacy performance distributed in the working age population of Nova Scotia/Atlantic? How do age and education affect the literacy and numeracy performance? How is literacy performance distributed in the labor force, immigration, occupations, industries and earning groups? What are the demographic characteristics of people with low literacy proficiency and where are they located in Nova Scotia? Introduction

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 3 Literacy proficiency: the ability to understand and employ printed information in daily activities, at home, at work and in the community. It is not about whether or not one can read but how well one reads. -Prose: The knowledge and skills needed to understand and use information from texts including editorials, news stories, brochures and instruction manuals. -Document: The knowledge and skills required to locate and use information contained in various formats, including job applications, payroll forms, transportation schedules, maps, tables, and charts. -Numeracy: The knowledge and skills required to apply arithmetic operations, either alone or sequentially, to numbers embedded in printed materials, such as balancing an account, figuring out a tip, completing an order form or determining the amount of interest on a loan from an advertisement. -Problem Solving: Involves goal-directed thinking and action in situations for which no routine solution procedure is available. The understanding of the problem situation and its step-by-step transformation, based on planning and reasoning constitute the process of problem solving. (Only four proficiency levels) 4 Domains, measure skills at five levels : Level points Level points Level points* Level points Level points * Proficiency level for modern economy and knowledge-based society Introduction

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 4 Background information of importance for IALSS results: Nova Scotia Total population (2003) 936,300 Population/square km 18 app. Population 15-65(2005) 652,300 Population 65 and over (2005) 133,600 Population by mother tongue (Census 2001) English only 832,660 French only 34,025 Non-official languages only 26,510 English and French 2,555 Eng. And non-off language 1,660 Introduction Source: Statistics Canada Gender Distribution Males 458,628 Females 478,332 Population 15 years and over by highest level of schooling (Census 2001) Less than high school 232,555 High school graduate 71,335 Trade Vocational cert. 26,475 College education 183,675 University 191,860

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 5 The number of persons (16 to 65) with low literacy rose from 8 m in 1994 to 9 m in 2003 though the percentage (42%) did not change. Source: IALSS, 2003; IALS, million 4.6 million 6.7 million 4.1 million 4.2 million 8.2 million 5.8 million 3.1 million Total: 18.4 millionTotal: 21.4 million * Differences at each level between IALS and IALSS are not statistically significant Change between 1994 and 2003, Canada IALSIALSS

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 6 Comparisons of provinces and territories based on average scores. Jurisdiction Y.T.Sas.Alta.B.C.N.S. N.W. T Man.P.E.I.Can.Ont.Que.N.B.N.L.Nvt Yukon Territory Saskatchewan Alberta. British Columbia Nova Scotia Northwest Territories Manitoba Prince Edward Island Canada Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nunavut Prose, population 16 and older, 2003 Mean proficiency significantly higher than comparison jurisdiction No statistically significant difference from comparison jurisdiction Mean proficiency significantly lower than comparison jurisdiction Nova Scotia performance

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 7 Proficiency varied across domains and population age in Nova Scotia. ProseDocumentNumeracy Problem Solving* 16 and older to 65 years of age Source: IALSS, 2003 Nova Scotia literacy performance Average proficiency scores, population 16 and older and population 16 to 65, Nova Scotia, Below level 3 * Proficiency levels are defined differently for problem solving

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 8 In Nova Scotia, the distribution of prose literacy proficiency is more favourable in the working age population compared to 16 and over, similar to most provinces and territories. Per cent of population aged 16 and older and at each prose level, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Nova Scotia performance and over

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 9 Nova Scotia has average scores in document and prose literacy at level 3 and at level 2 in numeracy (population 16-65). Province or TerritoryDocument literacy Prose literacyNumeracy Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Nunavut Territory Northwest Territory Yukon Territory Nova Scotia performance Source: IALSS, 2003 Below level 3 in 3 domains Below level 3 in numeracy but not in literacy.

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 10 Yukon had the lowest proportion overall (31%) of prose literacy below level 3. In Nova Scotia, 38% of the working-age population (16-65) had an average prose literacy proficiency below level 3. Source: IALSS, 2003 Percent of population 16 to 65 at each prose level by provinces and territories, 2003 Nova Scotia performance

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 11 Source: IALSS, 2003 Percent of population 16 to 65 at each numeracy level by provinces and territories, 2003 Yukon had lowest proportion of working-age adults below level 3 in numeracy (41%). In Nova Scotia the proportion of working-age adults below level 3 in numeracy was 50%. Nova Scotia performance

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 12 Prose Level 1Level 2Total %Number% % Newfoundland and Labrador , , ,000 Prince Edward Island14.013, , ,000 Nova Scotia11.975, , ,000 New Brunswick16.685, , ,000 Quebec , ,700, ,500,000 Ontario16.21,300, ,100, ,400,000 Manitoba12.790, , ,000 Saskatchewan6.641, , ,000 Alberta9.7209, ,00035,0753,000 British Columbia , , ,000,000 Yukon9.02, , ,000 Northwest Territory16.54, , ,000 Nunavut45.86, , ,000 Impact of low literacy in the population Total 8,849,000 Nova Scotia performance

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 13 Impact of low numeracy in the population Source: IALSS, 2003 Total 10,681,000 Nova Scotia performance Numeracy level 1Numeracy level 2Total %Number% % Newfoundland and Labrador , , ,000 Prince Edward Island , , ,000 Nova Scotia , , ,000 New Brunswick , , ,000 Quebec 20.01,026, ,697, ,723,000 Ontario 21.31,759, ,403, ,162,000 Manitoba , , ,000 Saskatchewan , , ,000 Alberta , , ,000 British Columbia , , ,233,000 Yukon 14.13, , ,000 Northwest Territory 22.06, , ,000 Nunavut 54.77, , ,000

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 14 Source: IALSS, 2003 Good Poor The proportion of Nova Scotia residents at levels 1 and 2 varied by 12 percentage points between literacy and numeracy. Per cent of adult populations performing at levels 1 and 2 in ALL 2003 Nova Scotia performance

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 15 Nova Scotians with high school education score better in prose literacy than counterparts in 8 provinces and territories (16 and over). Literacy proficiency by educational attainment, Canada, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Nova Scotia performance

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 16 Nova Scotians have higher scores in prose Literacy at every educational level than the Canadian averages. Mean prose proficiency scores by education level, population 16 and over, Canada and jurisdictions, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Nova Scotia performance

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 17 In Nova Scotia, as in most provinces and territories, the majority of youth have prose literacy proficiency at Level 3 or above. Distribution of proficiency level on the prose literacy scale for youth age 16-25, Canada, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Youth in Nova Scotia

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 18 The majority of seniors (133,600, 14%) in Nova Scotia have low literacy skills. Distribution of proficiency level on the prose literacy scale for those older than 65 years, provinces and territories, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Seniors in Nova Scotia

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 19 Source: IALSS, 2003 In Canada, prose literacy scores decline with age; In Nova Scotia, the scores are slightly higher at every age though they decline. Performance by Age, Nova Scotia

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 20 75, , , , , m 8.2m 5.8m 3.1m 21.4m Number of people by proficiency level SourceL IALSS, 2003 Over 240,000 residents of Nova Scotia have prose literacy scores below level 3.

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 21 Source: IALSS 2003 Those with higher literacy proficiency have a higher employment rate than those with low literacy. Literacy proficiency and employment

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 22 47% of those at level 1 and 60% of those at level 2 in the Atlantic were employed. Source: IALSS, 2003 Per cent of employed population in each document literacy level, population 16 to 65, Canada and Regions, 2003 Literacy performance and employment Atlantic

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 23 Source: IALSS 2003 Literacy performance and employment In Nova Scotia, unemployed workers had an average prose score above level 3.

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 24 Level 1 75,000 4,500 were immigrants 56 % were male and 42% female 47% were employed 14% were unemployed Education: 67% less than high school 23% had completed high school 10% had post-secondary education Main characteristics of people at level 1 and 2 in prose IALSS in Nova Scotia (population 16-65). Low literacy performance Source: IALSS, 2003 Level 2 168,000 4,100 were immigrants 50% were male and 50% female 58% were employed 13% were unemployed Education: 38% less than high school 35% had completed high school 27% had post-secondary education

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 25 Canada IndustriesLevel 1Level 2 Manufacturing445,000696,000 Trade, finance, Insurance, real estate and Leasing 325,000951,000 Accommodation and Food Services 189,000323,000 Construction158,000287,000 Health care and social assistance 140,000409,000 Source: IALSS, 2003 (Population 16-65) Low literacy and employment Total: Persons with low prose literacy are concentrated among certain industries, Canada and Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Industries Trade, finance, Insurance, real estate and leasing Manufacturing Health Care and Social Assistance Accommodation and Food Services Public Administration 1,257,0002,666,000 *Number are suppressed, roughly 1/5 could be in these industries

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 26 The majority of knowledge experts score at Level 3 or above in prose literacy in the regions and the territories. Per cent of Labour force population at prose levels 3 and 4/5 by type of occupations, population 16 to 65, Canada and regions, 2003 Source: IALSS, Knowledge expert2Managers3Information high-skills 4Information low-skills5Services low-skills6Goods Literacy performance- Occupation Atlantic

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 27 Workers in knowledge-related occupations tend to engage more often in writing at work than do low-skill information, services and goods production workers. Index scores of writing engagement at work on a standardized scale (centered on 2) by aggregated occupational types, labour force population, 16 to 65, 2003 Literacy performance- Occupation Source: IALSS, 2003 Legend Occupation Types 1 Knowledge expert 2 Managers 3 Information high-skills4 Information low-skills 5 Services low-skills6 Goods Atlantic

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 28 Knowledge intensive sectors had higher proportions of adults with document literacy proficiency above level 3. About 70% of knowledge intensive industry workers in the Atlantic had proficiency levels above level 3. Source: IALSS Knowledge-intensive market service activities 2 Public administration, defense, education and health 3 Other community, social and personal services 4 High and medium-high- techonology manufacturing industries 5 Low and medium-low- technology manufacturing industries 6 Utilities and Construction 7 Wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants 8 Transport and storage 9 Primary industries Per cent of labour force populations (16-65) at document literacy Levels 3 and 4/5, by type of industry, 2003 Literacy performance- Industry Atlantic

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 29 At least 35% of all industrial sectors in the Atlantic had workers with proficiency levels above level 3 in numeracy. 1 Knowledge-intensive market service activities 2 Public administration, defense, education and health 3 Other community, social and personal services 4 High and medium-high- techonology manufacturing industries 5 Low and medium-low- technology manufacturing industries 6 Utilities and Construction 7 Wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants 8 Transport and storage 9 Primary industries Source: IALSS, 2003 Per cent of labour force population at numeracy levels 3 and 4/5, by type of industry, population 16 to 65, Canada and regions, 2003 Literacy performance- Industry Atlantic

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 30 Those with higher average scores earn more ProseDocumentNumeracyProblem Solving Male Less than 20, ,000 to 40, ,000 to 60, ,000 and more ProseDocumentNumeracyProblem Solving Female Less than 20, ,000 to 40, ,000 to 60, ,000 and more Source: IALSS, 2003 Literacy performance-Labour force

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 31 There is a positive relationship between prose literacy and civic engagement Civic engagement index by prose literacy level, population aged 16 and older, Canada, 2003 Literacy performance- Civic engagement Source: IALSS, 2003

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 32 Regardless of level of literacy proficiency most immigrants were employed but were they under employed? Immigrants Canadian born Level 11,408,000 1,715,000 EmployedUnemployedEmployedUnemployed 893,000135,000889,000227,000 Level 21,234,000 4,595,000 EmployedUnemployedEmployedUnemployed 856,000105,0003,255,000381,000 Level 31,284,000 6,967,000 EmployedUnemployedEmployedUnemployed 966,00099,0005,329,000429,000 Level 4/5469,000 3,688,000 EmployedUnemployedEmployedUnemployed 360,00034,0002,949,000180,000 Source: IALSS, 2003 Literacy performance- Immigrants in Canada

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 33 A high number of immigrants at levels 1 and 2 proficiency in English or French have post secondary education. Immigrants Level 11,408,000 Less than HSHSPSE 567,000 (68.8%)467,000 (36.2%)374,000 (16.4%) Level 21,234,000 Less than HSHSPSE 169,000 (20.5%)423,000 (32.8%)642,000 (28.1%) Level 31,284,000 Less than HSHSPSE 77,000 (9.3%)309,000 (23.9%)898,000 ( 39.4%) Level 4/5469,000 Less than HSHSPSE --92,000 (7.1%)366,000 (16.1%) Total-- (100%)1,290,000 (100%)2,279,000 (100%) Source: IALSS, 2003 Literacy performance- Immigrants in Canada

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 34 In all provinces and territories there is a substantial difference between the participation rates in training of those with the lowest and highest levels of literacy. Source: IALSS, 2003 Per cent of population receiving adult education and training during the year preceding the interview, by document literacy levels, 16-65, Canada and regions, 2003 Literacy performance- Adult training participation Atlantic

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 35 About 53% of workers participated in adult training in Nova Scotia compared to 50% in Canada. 30% took courses, similar to AB, BC and YK. Per cent of population receiving adult education and training the year preceding the interview, by type of participation, population 16 to 65, Canada and jurisdictions, 2003 Source: IALSS, 2003 Literacy performance- Adult training participation

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 36 70% of Nova Scotia residents have access to a computer at home compared to 76% of Canadians aged 16 to 65 years. Computer and Internet access at home Per cent of adults aged who report having access to a computer and the Internet at home, Canada and jurisdictions, 2003 Literacy performance-ICT Source: IALSS, 2003

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 37 Generally, 16 to 65 year-olds in poor health have lower average document literacy scores and older Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores by mean document literacy proficiency by age groups, Canada and regions, 2003 Note : Orders the provinces and territories by the size of the difference in average document literacy between those in poor health and those in excellent health. Literacy performance- Health Source: IALSS, 2003

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate >HSPSE Base group: Those with high school - Mother tongue English or French Source: IALSS 2003 Policy sensitive targets appear to be similar for Nova Scotia and Canada. Improving Literacy in Nova Scotia Mother tongue other than English or French Regression analysis. * Not significant

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 39 Geographic distribution of people at level 1 in prose in Nova Scotia (IALSS population 16-65). Low literacy performance

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 40 Concentration of people at level 1 and 2 in prose literacy in Nova Scotia

HRSDC-Learning Policy Directorate 41 Contact Information : Satya Brink, Ph.D. Director, Policy Research Learning Policy Directorate Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Place du Portage, Phase IV, 3 Floor 140 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, QC K1A 0J9 Tel: Fax: