National Workforce Literacy Project

What?
The Ai Group has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to conduct a national workplace literacy and numeracy project.

Why?
The impetus came from the findings of the Ai Group research report Skilling the Existing Workforce which highlighted the importance of literacy and numeracy in the workplace and recommended the establishment of a national workforce literacy strategy. In addition, the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (2006) undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on behalf of the OECD highlighted the low levels of literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills within the adult Australian population. For more information, read the National Workforce Literacy Project Newsletter.

Employer Viewpoints
This project sought the views of employers about this significant issue. This perspective is currently missing in the available research. This involved employer roundtables conducted in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Illawarra together with an employer survey to establish an overall employer view. 

National Workforce Literacy Project - Report on Employers Views on Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Skills
Employer views on workplace literacy and numeracy skills, their impact on business and the most effective measures for improving skills - May 2010.

Trial Programs
Ai Group will test workplace solutions in 10 companies across 3 States from the beginning of this year. Employers will have the major input into the literacy and numeracy training programs implemented in the workplaces. Participating companies will need to have at least 5 employees prepared to undertake specific literacy-numeracy training for between 80 - 120 hours in the workplace during the February - October 2010 period. This training will be additional to any other training being undertaken by these employees. The timing of the training will be negotiated between the employers and the literacy-numeracy trainers assigned to the project. Ai Group will meet all of the costs of this training.

Evaluations
The project will conclude in May 2011 and will incorporate employer evaluations of the program upon conclusion and six months after the completion of the program to determine the impact on productivity. Ai Group will use the findings to make recommendations to government about how to improve the levels of literacy and numeracy within the workforce.

Michael Taylor
Project Manager 
Tel: (03) 9867 0134
Email: mtaylor@aigroup.asn.au