It’s not just reading and writing – it’s the confidence to speak up at work, and apply problem-solving to issues as well as on-job numeracy and digital skills.
Why does it matter? In New Zealand, 43% of us do not have functional literacy for everyday life. The impact on the economy is estimated at 2% of GDP – that comes out at a huge $6.8 billion at the last count.
Organisations that engage with workplace literacy and numeracy programmes:
- Improve employee engagement and wellbeing
- Lift foundation skills, which improves productivity
- Create a learning culture
- Grow skills so that a talent pipeline exists for succession planning (particularly topical given talent shortages due to Covid)
- Improve health and safety outcomes
Check out just a few of the improvements that have come out of some of Upskills’ workplace literacy projects:
- 90% reduction in waste product for a food manufacturing client through a simple zero cost redesign using scrap metal
- A redesign of machine covers and a switch from plastic to canvas created cost reductions of $90,000 per year (not to mention the environmental savings of reduced plastic).
- A sort and tidy initiative that meant stock to fix parts was closer to hand, saving $28,000 a year in lost time and transport.
This important work is government funded – talk to Upskills about how a workplace literacy programme could be the boost your organisation needs to succeed in 2022.
Phone: 09 622 3979 | website: upskills.co.nz | email: info@upskills.co.nz
