Did you know that about 9 million Canadians of working age (42%) scored below Level 3 on the prose literacy scale. Level 3 is the desired threshold for coping with a knowledge-based economy and society. Research has shown that low literacy has direct links to poverty, poor health, high unemployment and social isolation.

More stats:

  • 1 in 6 Canadian adults can not read the newspaper headlines.
  • 60% of Canadians over the age of 16 can not read to a high enough level to understand the labelling on medication or work place safety instructions.

Source: Statistics Canada/Frontier College www.frontiercollege.ca

CANADA’S LITERACY LEVEL