Why Should Canadian Colleges and Institutes Care About Essential Skills?
What the research says about workers who have strong essential skills: • increased “promotability” and transferability • increased ability to use technology • greater ability to work more independently • better health and safety records • better morale and higher job satisfaction • better teamwork, problem-solving, and communication • greater sensitivity around diversity • increased productivity and reduced error rates • better quality of work and greater work effort • reduced absenteeism and stronger labour relations Since colleges and institutes train workers for the workforce of today and tomorrow, they are important players in the Canadian government’s effort to strengthen learning in Canada, develop people’s talent, and provide opportunity for all to contribute to and benefit from the new economy. One of the goals of the HRDC initiative, Knowledge Matters, is to build on the expertise of community colleges by exploring how to help support them in equipping Canadians with the skill
