I call your attention to the paper listed in our previous discussion this week, from the LINCS Resource Collection: “Foundational Skills in The Service Sector - Understanding and addressing the impact of limited math, reading, and technology proficiency on workers and employers, by Amanda Bergson-Shilcock (National Skills Coalition, 2017)
There have been earlier discussions relating to this report in several LINCS communities. Many findings are not that surprising to those of us with a history of working in Adult Education. Some might call for renewed attention, which is why I bring it up for your consideration.
- Low skills are prevalent among service-sector workers- I believe that we are generally very aware of that as we work with adults going into service occupations in our programs.
- Most service workers are older, not Younger Adults - "Contrary to the image of service workers as teens and young adults, a full three-quarters of those with low basic skills are over the age of 25, including 52% who are age 35 or older. Most are parents. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of service-sector workers with low literacy are parents.""
- Demands that services workers use reading, writing, math, and digital skills on the job — "...this issue essentially functions as an invisible drag on productivity and worker mobility..Workers are overwhelmingly called upon to read directions or instructions in order to do their jobs...regardless of their ability to successfully complete such tasks"
- Teaching and Learning on the Job - "NSC also found that workers are: • Regularly learning and teaching new things on the job. More than half (55%) of workers are actively engaged in learning new things in their current jobs, and 38% are teaching others on the job. • Often supervising other people. Nearly one in four workers (23%) with low skills are supervisors...Nearly one in four workers (23%) with low skills are supervisors, and half of those are overseeing 6 or more employees."
I ask you to consider the following based on the quoted report:
- Nearly two-thirds (64%) of service-sector workers with low literacy are parents." Should we be focusing more on that fact? If so, how? Family Literacy? Parenting content for reading, writing, computing, and "webbing?"
- Most workers are actively engaged in learning new things. Are we helping our learners recognize how they learn and how they can learn to learn?
- About one-third of service workers are teaching and supervising others on the job. Are we addressing leadership skills as we integrate instruction? Should we? If so, how? Collaborative activities where students take different roles? Helping learners provide positive feedback? Case studies?
- Workers are overwhelmingly called upon to use basic reading, writing, math, and digital skills in order to do their jobs. Are we emphasizing high-level essay, research, and report writing enough among our learners moving into service jobs before they become proficient in those reading, writing, and basic digital skills?
Leecy