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 labelReading a nutritional label on a food productFilling out a job applicationReading and responding to correspondence in the workplaceFilling out a home loan applicationReading a bank statementWorking 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 electionsUsing a computer to do banking or interact with government agenciesCompleting a higher education degree or trainingAnalyzing sophisticated media and advertising messages, particularly for get-rich-quick scamsAssisting 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 staffThe cost of training staff The cost of fixing incorrect orders or processing refundsResolving 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)
H.S. Drop Out Diploma/ GED College Grad0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Black Latino White
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 12-14 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
Dollars 0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Drop-Out Graduate College Grad
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.
• 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
• When adults improve their literacy skills, it has an effect on their children’s likelihood of strong literacy skills
Interventions Change Trajectory