Literacy Facts

In 1994, the International Adult Literacy Survey studied the ability of people between 16 and 65 years old to use printed and written information to function in society, to achieve their goals, and to develop their potential. It was the first study that measured skills in several countries and several languages.

It studied two types of reading skills and ability to use numbers. It divided the results into five skill levels.

In Atlantic Canada, 22 per cent of adults, just over one in five, had real trouble using written materials like brochures, reports, and news releases. Just over one in four could use simply written materials of this type. One in six Canadian adults fit into the two highest skill levels, and one in three, the largest group, were in the middle level.

The second reading skill type is the ability to deal with documents like job applications, payroll forms, tables, and schedules. Just over one in four Canadian adults can deal with these forms if they are simple and clearly laid out. Just under one in three have serious difficulty with this type of information.

While there isn't necessarily a relationship between level of education and reading level, in general most adults with a university degree have the highest skill levels. This probably means that their personal reading habits and work and life experience keep them using their skills.

The survey also noted a relationship between skill and industrial growth. Industries that are growing have employees with fairly high reading skill levels. Industries that are dying have employees with lower skill levels. It's also worth noting that an unemployed person is three times more likely to have the lowest level of reading skill.