Workforce literacy is not just the ability to read, write, add and subtract. Workplace literacy is vital to effective performance in the workplace.
Literacy includes the ability to:
communicate written and oral ideas and opinions
use information and maths skills
make informed decisions and solve problems
use information systems, technology and tools.
Literacy skills are the foundation upon which new knowledge and capabilities are built and we have seen an increase in workplace literacy demands as a result of:
An increase in the number of computerised processes and self-managing teams
A greater need for critical thinking, problem solving and compliance.
"Workers in both skilled and less-skilled roles need higher levels of literacy. Technological change makes communication and information processing more sophisticated and immediate, with constant innovations in communication networks, online ordering and stock control management." From An economic imperative, Workbase, New Zealand, 2007.
How can workplace literacy help our industry?
Workplace literacy can help with the following issues:
Productivity
To boost productivity workplace literacy is needed:
to reduce avoidable costs, such as poor quality control, lost orders, bad communication and the need for external recruitment when the skills of existing workers limit internal promotions
to give employees a better understanding of the entire business and how their individual actions affect the bottom line
to ensure that the full potential of investment in workforce training is realised
to increase independence and reduce the need for supervision
to reduce error – numerical, reading comprehension and miscommunication
to increase conformity with instructions and standard procedures
decrease time to develop new skills and learn new processes, tools or systems.
Skill Shortages
To reduce skill shortages workplace literacy is needed:
to build the skills of existing employees so that more positions can be filled internally
to boost morale and employee commitment to the workplace, and reduce staff turnover
to rapidly develop the skills of new recruits so that a wider pool of potential employees can be drawn from.
Workplace Safety
To ensure workplace safety workplace literacy is needed:
for managers/supervisors to convey safety policies and procedures
for all workers to understand and implement safety policies and procedures
for participants in workplace induction training to learn about the specific safety requirements of the workplace
for everyone to understand the implications of workplace safety, e.g. the importance of reporting hazards and complying with SOPs
allows supervisors/managers to better communicate the safety message.
Workplace Change and Increasing Complexity
To assist workplace change and increasingly complex workplaces workplace literacy is needed:
for the learning and skill development required to adapt quickly to change
to express ideas, build shared knowledge and collaborate effectively in teams
to document new processes or systems and share knowledge across dispersed work groups
to question and analyse new processes or methodologies and adapt them for a different environment.
The Aging Workforce
To meet the demands of an ageing workforce workplace literacy is needed:
to help to retain and share industry knowledge and experience
to make alternative job roles possible for workers who are no longer able to cope with physically demanding work activities
to improve their ability to learn other new skills, including the use of ICT
to increase job satisfaction and inspire continued participation in the workforce.
Team Building
To build teams workplace literacy is needed as it:
allows improved communication between team members and increases levels of participation and trust
enables better documentation of team activities
supports the sharing of knowledge between team members
increases cross-cultural understanding between workers from diverse backgrounds.
Making Training Effective
To ensure your training is effective workplace literacy is needed as it:
supports learners with literacy needs without exposing or stigmatising them
encourages participation because all learners are given the support to succeed
makes vocational training more effective builds transferable skills.
