SOCI2323 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Canadian Economics Association, Retraining, Numeracy
February 6th, 2018
Education, training and lifelong learning
Government in Canada emphasize education and lifelong learning as contributors to increasing
economic productivity (economic efficiency) and to promoting more equal outcomes for
individuals (social equity), but:
-a significant proportion of Canadian adults have weak literacy and numeracy skills
-adult learning and workplace-based learning have been relatively neglected in
Canadian public policy regarding investment in/development of “human capital”
-cutbacks to government training programs
-no programs for paid training leaves for adult workers
-government reluctance to intervene in employer training decisions (except Quebec)
-impact = few second chances
Tensions and contradictions
• Governments in Canada emphasize education and lifelong learning as contributors to
increasing economic productivity (economic efficiency) and to promoting more equal
outcomes for individuals (social equity), BUT…
• a significant proportion of Canadian adults have weak literacy and numeracy skills.
• adult learning and workplace-based learning have been relatively neglected in Canadian
public policy regarding investment in/development of "human capital."
• Cutbacks to government training programs
• No programs for paid training leaves for adult workers
• Gov't reluctance to intervene in employer training decisions (except Quebec)
• Impact? Few "second chances"
• Evidence indicates high returns to employer investments in worker training (re: productivity)
BUT…
• Canadian employers offer little workplace-based training compared to many other OECD
countries.
• Little investment in strengthening basic skills of workers in lower-level positions.
• Few training programs to "re-skill" workers displaced by new technologies.
• Lack of a strong workplace training culture (J&T, pp. 53-54)
• Evidence indicates high returns to employer investments in worker training (re: productivity)
BUT… (cont'd.):
• what workplace training is made available tends to be offered disproportionately to workers
in higher level occupations (e.g., managerial, professional) who have relatively high levels of
formal education.
• Result? Skills polarization, low-skills trap, increased risk of marginalization
• Emphasis has been on the supply side (the need for workers to acquire needed skills), BUT
what about the demand side?
• for some workers, high-level skills and credentials may not be fully utilized ("under-
employment")
Document Summary
Government in canada emphasize education and lifelong learning as contributors to increasing economic productivity (economic efficiency) and to promoting more equal outcomes for individuals (social equity), but: A significant proportion of canadian adults have weak literacy and numeracy skills. Adult learning and workplace-based learning have been relatively neglected in. Canadian public policy regarding investment in/development of human capital . No programs for paid training leaves for adult workers. Government reluctance to intervene in employer training decisions (except quebec) Few "second chances: evidence indicates high returns to employer investments in worker training (re: productivity) But : canadian employers offer little workplace-based training compared to many other oecd countries. Little investment in strengthening basic skills of workers in lower-level positions: few training programs to "re-skill" workers displaced by new technologies. Lack of a strong workplace training culture (j&t, pp. 53-54: evidence indicates high returns to employer investments in worker training (re: productivity)
