Investing in training results in improved productivity as employees become more efficient and skilled, which directly impacts sales growth and customer service. Better training reduces mistakes and enhances the quality of service provided.
Training also improves workplace safety, helping employees follow safety protocols and avoid accidents. It leads to greater workplace efficiency, streamlining processes and boosting overall performance.
A well-trained workforce is more engaged and confident, with a better grasp of technology that allows them to work more effectively. On a broader scale, training strengthens the Canadian economy, increasing competitiveness and creating more employment opportunities.
A solid understanding of safety regulations helps reduce workplace injuries, lowering insurance costs and minimizing employee downtime. Well-trained employees are more capable of preventing accidents, resulting in a safer and more efficient work environment.
In a Conference Board of Canada study, 82% of respondents linked improved health and safety to basic skills programs, highlighting the positive impact of training on employee safety.
In Ontario, the cost of a lost-time injury averaged $59,000 in 2002 and rose to $98,000 by 2006, emphasizing the significant financial benefits of investing in proper safety training.
It’s a well known fact that literacy plays a key role in providing better customer service.
Improved English language skills translate directly into better communication and interaction with customers. This reduces misunderstandings, improves the exchange of information and completes more sales with a higher level of overall customer satisfaction.
Numeracy and mathematics skills translate directly into reduced errors when handing cash and debit transactions. Lower error rates means customers who leave happy without the negative experiences of being overcharged or shorted on orders.
Staff are able to complete more orders in less time, with fewer mistakes, when they are not struggling with reading, writing or mathematics associated with assisting customers.
An organization that actively offers education and employment opportunities is more likely to retain its employees.
Employees who take part in literacy and essential skills programs gain confidence, develop valuable new skills, and become better prepared for promotions. They also feel more empowered and valued in the workplace, leading to greater job satisfaction.
A Conference Board of Canada report shows that these programs encourage employees to take ownership of their work, become better decision-makers, and engage more fully in the organization. Additional benefits include improved teamwork and better labour-management relations.
Another study found that 85% of respondents said these programs enhanced participants’ ability to work in teams, and 63% noted that they help retain employees over time.
In a Conference Board of Canada study, 87% of respondents said that programs impact positively on participants’ ability to use workplace-based technology. (The Economic Benefits of Improving Literacy Skills in the Workplace, Conference Board of Canada, 2007)
A more literate workforce boosts productivity: The C. D. Howe Institute reports that a 1% rise in a country’s literacy level, relative to the international average, is associated with an eventual 2.5% rise in labour productivity and a 1.5% rise in the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This 1% increase in literacy rates would boost the national income by as much as $32 billion. (Public Investment in Skills: Are Canadian Governments Doing Enough?, Serge Coulombe and Jean-François Tremblay, C.D. Howe Institute, 2005 and Canadian Labour Congress, 2007)
Differences in average adult literacy levels explain as much as 55% of long-term differences in the long-term growth rate of GDP per capita as well as productivity growth at the national and international level. (The International Survey of Reading Skills (ISRS), 2008)
Greater understanding of job demands and procedures facilitates communication and enhances workplace efficiencies.
In a workplace literacy study, 90% of employers indicated that employees who took basic skills programs had an increased ability to work independently. (The Impact of Basic Skills Programs on Canadian Workplaces (2nd ed.), 1997)
When literacy skills are enhanced, employees are better suited to meet the demands of the job and better prepared to assume greater responsibilities and seek promotion.
A Conference Board of Canada study revealed that 79% of workplaces saw a notable increase in productivity as a result of their basic skills programs.
66% of respondents reported fewer errors in their work, 85% observed significant improvements in work quality, and 73% noticed greater employee effort and commitment.
Moreover, 94% indicated that these programs had a positive impact on participants’ reading, writing, and communication skills, all of which contributed to better workplace performance.
An extra year of schooling can boost productivity by 4.9% to 12.7%, depending on the sector. On average, for every dollar invested in training, employers receive a $1.38 return, representing a 40% return on investment.
