Facts

Did You Know?

• 1 in 5 adult Canadians 16 years and over fall in the lowest level of literacy. They have serious difficulties dealing with printed materials on a daily basis such as forms, flyers, menus and instructions.
• 1 in 4 adults in Waterloo-Wellington 16 years and over fall in the lowest levels of literacy.
• 1 out of 3 Canadian employers experience basic skills-related problems with their workforce, yet less than 1 out of 10 employers are involved in literacy programs.
• According to the 1998 Canadian Business Task Force, illiteracy costs society $10 billion a year.
• A prime indicator of a child’s future literacy skills is the level of literacy attained by their parents.
• 1 in 4 adults can’t read dosages and directions on over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
• Approximately 20% of those collection Employment Insurance and 40% of social assistance recipients fall into the lowest levels of literacy.
• More than 1 in 5 Canadians have trouble filling out a catalogue order form.