Workplace Literacy

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"Without basic reading and writing skills, workers cannot possibly perform to their full potential."
The Challenge for Business
Project Literacy U.S.A.

When your employees can't read memos or communicate with customers or supervisors in English, your business suffers. When on-the-job accidents occur because your employees can't read or understand safety warning, your business pays.

Some Facts About Literacy and Socioeconomics

  • The 2001 unemployment rate for adults (25 years old and over) who had not completed high school was 7.3% compared with 4.2% for those with 4 years of high school and 2.3% for those with a bachelor's degree or higher. (U.S. Department of Education. (2003). Digest of education statistics 2002 (NCES No. 2003-060). Washington, DC: Author.)
  • The average 2000 incomes for full-time year round workers with a bachelor's degree were $56,334 for men and $40,415 for women. (U.S. Department of Education. (2003). Digest of education statistics 2002 (NCES No. 2003-060). Washington, DC: Author.)
  • A college degree is now the single greatest factor in determining access to better job opportunities and higher earnings. Two-thirds of the nation's high school graduates lack the college degree that is critical to success. (Children's Defense Fund. (2000, May). State of America's children yearbook. Washington, DC: Beacon Press.)
  • Fifty percent of the chronically unemployed are not functionally literate. (Ohio Literacy Resource Center. (2003). The economics of literacy. Kent, OH: Author.)
  • Fifty percent of the chronically unemployed are not functionally literate. (Ohio Literacy Resource Center. (2003). The economics of literacy. Kent, OH: Author.)
  • The education and training requirements of the 2000-2010 projected total job openings, due to growth and net replacement are: 70% will require work-related training; 21% will require a bachelor's degree or higher; 9% will require an associate's degree or post secondary vocation award. (Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2001). Occupational Employment Projects to 2010. Washington, DC: Author.)
  • The average incomes in 2000 for full-time year round workers increased as the level of education completed increased for both men and women. (U.S. Department of Education, Digest of Education Statistics 2002)
  • Workers age 25 and over with a Bachelor's degree earned a median annual income of $47,000 in 2001 compared to $22,400 for those with some high school but no diploma. (Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2001). Employment projections: Education pays. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor.)
  • Education is essential in getting a high-paying job. All but 2 of the 50 highest paying jobs require a college degree. (U.S. Department of Labor. (2002). Occupational outlook handbook 2002-03 edition. Washington, DC: Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

For the business community, Eastside Literacy provides consultation services, literacy audits, employee assessments, tutor recruitment and revision of job materials. Specialized development of curriculum and instruction is also available in the following areas:
  • writing daily shift reports
  • reading manuals, reports and other industry-specific materials
  • basic math
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • computerized basic skills lessons

Workplace literacy affects all of us. Limited basic skills can even create dangerous situations on the job. Eastside Literacy can help your company become more productive by providing literacy training. We can design a program to specifically address your business needs.

For more information, contact Tricia Kesterson, program director, at tbkesterson@hope-link.org or 425.643.1912.