The Department of Labour, in partnership with the Tertiary Education Commission and the Ministry of Education, is responsible for a programme of research and evaluation on workforce literacy, language and numeracy (LLN) skills. Its purpose is to build the evidence base to inform policy development and practices for improving adult literacy, language and numeracy skills.

The Transfer of Literacy, Language and Numeracy Skills from Learning Programmes to the Workplace

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how LLN skills are learned and what helps or hinders trainees in transferring their learning to other situations, such as their jobs. In the first stage of the project, a review of the literature on learning transfer was undertaken, with a particular focus on the learning and transfer of LLN skills. In the second stage, learning transfer was studied empirically through case studies of six work-based LLN training programmes.

The transfer of LLN skills from learning programmes into the workplace: Literature review

Authors: Marie Cameron, Rose Hipkins, Josie Lander and Jenny Whatman
Date published: July 2011

The transfer of LLN skills from learning programmes into the workplace: research report

Authors: Marie Cameron, Jenny Whatman, Helen Potter, Keren Brooking, Sally Robertson and Dominic Madell
Date published: August 2011

Upskilling Partnership Programme evaluation

The Upskilling Partnership Programme was a New Zealand government initiative to raise the literacy and numeracy skills of the workforce, which ran from July 2006 to June 2009. It was developed to increase the engagement of employers in workplace literacy programmes and to evaluate their impact. Fifteen partnerships were established with companies throughout New Zealand. The evaluation used a multi-method approach to investigate the impact of the programmes on participants and company operations.

Author: Department of Labour
Date published: August 2010

Youth participation in literacy programmes

A literature review and a set of case studies were undertaken to identify the factors that influence the engagement of young adults in literacy and numeracy skills development programmes.

Author: Jenny Whatman, Sandie Schagen, Karen Vaughan, Josie Lander, Juliet Twist, Keren Brooking, Sally Robertson and Lorraine Spiller
Date published: August 2010

• Engaging young adults in LLN skill development: Summary
• Engaging young adults in LLN skill development: Literature review
• Engaging young adults in LLN skill development: Research report

Modern apprentices' literacy learning: A formative evaluation

A formative evaluation of a pilot programme in which modern apprentices with literacy or numeracy needs received one-on-one tutoring from a Literacy Aoteoroa-affiliated provider.

Author: Frank Sligo, Elspeth Tilley, Niki Murray, Bronwyn Watson, Margie Comrie and Franco Vaccarino
Date published: August 2010

Literacy skills in the workforce

This report examines the characteristics, jobs, and education and training patterns of workers with low literacy or numeracy skills, using data from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey 2006. It also provides information on the prevalence of low literacy and numeracy skills in the workforce in different industries and occupations.

Author: Sylvia Dixon and Carmel Tuya
Date published: March 2010

In-house LLN initiatives in New Zealand workplaces

This report summarises the findings of a review into the level of literacy, language and numeracy in employer funded training in workplaces in New Zealand in 2008. The purpose of the review was to find out more about the types of LLN training employers were undertaking without the support of government funding.

Author: Catherine Kell, Shona Guy, Kim Hastwell and Sharon Harvey
Date published: October 2009

International workforce literacy reviews

These literature reviews outline the work that is taking place in the area of workforce literacy in other OECD countries. Five country reviews were commissioned by the Department of Labour in 2007. Each review outlines the context for workforce literacy, gives an overview of key policies related to workplace literacy, information on literacy provision and the outcomes of literacy provision, and concludes with what is happening in relation to literacy capacity building.

• Australia (Louise Wignall and Robert Bluer, July 2007)
• Canada (Sue Folinsbee, September 2007)
• England (Juliet Merrifield, July 2007)
• Ireland (Inez Bailey, July 2007)
• United States (David Rosen, January 2008)

A review of the workplace literacy fund

This review provides a snapshot of employers and providers who ran a programme that was funded through the Workplace Literacy Fund in 2006. It identifies the characteristics of the employers who chose to participate, the issues that led to them to consider LLN training and the benefits they gained. It also considers the outcomes for learners and the factors that lead to successful programmes.

Author: Alison Gray and Alison Sutton
Date published: August 2007

A synthesis of foundation learning evaluation and research in New Zealand since 2003

This synthesis report examines the coverage of recent research on Literacy, Language and Numeracy (LLN) initiatives and highlights knowledge gaps.

Author: John Benseman and Alison Sutton
Date published: July 2007

Upskilling through foundation skills: A literature review

This literature review considers the role of government, unions, and other stakeholders in Literacy, Language and Numeracy (LLN) skills development, the barriers for employers to invest in workplace LLN training, the links between productivity and LLN skills, and the benefits to employers and employees of enhancing LLN skills.

Author: Alison Gray
Date published: January 2006