Training the work force: A challenge facing Canada in the '90s (1)

A frequent complaint of Canadian employers is that the basic literacy and numeracy skills of the work force are inadequate. Without such skills workers cannot function effectively in the modern workplace. For example, they may not be able to read manuals, perform numerical calculations, operate sophisticated equipment, use information technologies, or do myriad other tasks requiring a basic level of skills. It follows that workers without these basic skills are less able to adapt to the growth and decline of firms and to the introduction of new technology.