Building a Skilled Workforce

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Building a Skilled Workforce

• Bridging Literacy and Workforce Development

Presented by Laureen Atkins Cuyahoga County
Department of Workforce Development
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What We Know . . .

• There is a direct correlation between education
  and income
• There is a direct correlation between literacy
  levels and workplace productivity
• Five of the eight top concerns of employers
  involve reading, writing, communication, and math
  skills

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Workforce Education

• A number of national and state organizations in
  the U.S., including the national governor's
  association, have identified level 3 proficiency
  as a minimum standard for success in today's
  labor market. Findings from the international
  adult literacy survey (IALS) assessment indicates
  that only half of the U.S. Adult population 16-65
  years of age reached level 3.(Sum, 2002, p11,
  table 5)

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So What Needs to Happen?

• More contextualized learning incorporated with
  adult basic education programs
• More offerings of workplace literacy programs at
  employer locations
• More connection between career ladders/pathways
  and literacy development
• More communication between schools and employers

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QUESTIONS?