Feb. 07 2025
Literacy is a fundamental tool for decoding and understanding the world around us. It is the foundation for all advanced learning and skill-building opportunities. Strong literacy skills allow people to fully participate in education, employment, civic engagement, and many other contexts.
The findings from the 2024 PIAAC report show that, while Canada excels in certain areas, there are still critical gaps to address. On the positive side, Canada ranks in the top 10 for all three areas, doing better than the average of other OECD countries in reading, math, and problem-solving. However, it is not all good news: 19% of Canadian adults struggle with basic reading skills, which is a significant issue with serious implications.
What are the consequences of one in five working-age people struggling to read basic sentences? At an individual level, this limits a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks such as filling out forms, creating a budget, following packaging instructions, voting, distinguishing fact from fiction, or even helping their children with homework. These challenges have a profound effect on health, access to housing, and financial stability.
On a broader scale, low literacy levels cost Canada billions of dollars each year. Economists estimate that even a 1% increase in literacy levels could translate to a GDP growth of $54 to $67 billion (Alexander, 2020). Furthermore, this same increase would lead to a 5% boost in national productivity (Schwerdt and Wiederhold, 2018). This underscores the profound impact literacy has on the country’s economic health.
Melanie Valcin, the CEO of United for Literacy, responded to the PIACC results by saying we need to act: "There are new and unsettling economic and societal developments every day. Workers, families, and communities will undoubtedly feel the impact as these changes unfold. If we do not act, we are saying that we accept that the 19% of Canadians aged 16 to 65 with the lowest literacy levels won’t have the same opportunities we take for granted. These individuals will be the first to feel the effects when a crisis hits."
The PIACC findings remind us that the gap between those with strong literacy skills and those that struggle with simple texts often reflects larger societal inequalities. A person’s age; historical barriers to education; location; family obligations; income; language; and immigration status are all factors that can affect their reading level.
United for Literacy, whose mission is to transform lives every day through literacy, has an important message: literacy changes everything. Valcin emphasizes, "We ask governments, businesses, and community groups to invest dollars, time, and energy in literacy and essential skills programs across Canada. Working together, we can create a country where everyone has equal access to opportunity. This is essential if we want to face the troubled times ahead with collective courage, strength, and resilience."
She continues, "This call to action is about fostering a collective understanding that literacy brings positive social change while driving economic growth. It is about recognizing that literacy allows individuals to adapt, make thoughtful choices, think critically, and play active roles in their communities. Supporting literacy is an action towards a stronger future for Canada. In 2025, literacy is a necessity. Let’s use the PIAAC results as a wake-up call.”
References
Alexander, C. (2020, November). Deloitte Report: An Economic Overview of Children’s Literacy in Canada. CCLF. https://childrensliteracy.ca/cclf/media/PDFs/Deloitte-Report-An-Economic-Overview-of-Children-s-Literacy-in-Canada.pdf
Government of Canada, S. C. (2024, December 6). Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Surveys and statistical programs. https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=4406
Hayes, B. (2024, December). PIAAC 2023 – survey of adult skills released – my thoughts. As I was saying... https://brigidhayes.wordpress.com/2024/12/11/piaac-2023-survey-of-adult-skills-released-my-thoughts/
Schwerdt, G., & Wiederhold, S. (2018, October 11). Literacy and growth: New evidence from PIAAC - Dataangel. http://www.dataangel.ca/docs/LiteracyandGrowth_revised_October2018.pdf
