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Table D.5.15
Literacy levels for document proficiency,1 by educational attainment, Canada and jurisdictions, population aged 16 and over, 2003
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| Document proficiency | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4/5 | |||||
| percentage | standard error | percentage | standard error | percentage | standard error | percentage | standard error | |
| Canada | ||||||||
| Total education | 21.5 | (0.4) | 27.1 | (0.6) | 33.5 | (0.9) | 17.9 | (0.5) |
| High school not completed | 48.7 | (1.3) | 30.1 | (1.3) | 17.1 | (0.9) | 4.2 | (0.7) |
| High school | 17.0 | (1.0) | 31.2 | (1.4) | 37.8 | (1.8) | 14.1 | (1.3) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 13.8 | (1.6) | 29.9 | (2.1) | 41.4 | (1.9) | 14.9 | (1.4) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | 10.8 | (1.5) | 25.6 | (1.7) | 40.8 | (2.7) | 22.7 | (1.9) |
| University4 | 4.9 | (0.5) | 17.4 | (1.3) | 39.4 | (2.0) | 38.3 | (1.6) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||||||
| Total education | 26.5 | (1.6) | 31.1 | (1.5) | 29.3 | (1.8) | 13.2 | (1.2) |
| High school not completed | 55.8 | (3.8) | 30.3 | (2.8) | 12.2E | (2.9) | F | (...) |
| High school | 16.1 | (2.5) | 35.8 | (3.0) | 35.0 | (3.8) | 13.1E | (3.0) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 13.7E | (3.1) | 41.7 | (5.0) | 35.3E | (7.0) | 9.2E | (2.9) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | 8.5E | (2.8) | 27.8E | (5.9) | 44.5 | (6.7) | 19.2E | (5.6) |
| University4 | F | (...) | 14.2 | (2.3) | 41.3 | (4.7) | 42.5 | (4.7) |
| Prince Edward Island | ||||||||
| Total education | 21.7 | (2.1) | 28.9 | (2.9) | 33.5 | (2.6) | 15.8 | (1.7) |
| High school not completed | 48.6 | (4.1) | 29.6E | (5.0) | 18.4 | (3.0) | F | (...) |
| High school | 12.0E | (3.4) | 37.6 | (5.9) | 36.6E | (6.3) | 13.7E | (3.1) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 14.5E | (3.9) | 39.8E | (7.8) | 39.3E | (7.7) | F | (...) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | F | (...) | 27.6E | (7.0) | 43.7E | (11.4) | 20.8E | (6.8) |
| University4 | x | (...) | 10.7E | (3.3) | 45.5 | (5.9) | 41.6 | (5.5) |
| Nova Scotia | ||||||||
| Total education | 19.7 | (1.3) | 27.5 | (1.9) | 35.3 | (2.0) | 17.5 | (1.5) |
| High school not completed | 43.4 | (2.9) | 34.2 | (3.8) | 18.1 | (2.4) | F | (...) |
| High school | 13.7E | (2.4) | 31.2 | (3.6) | 40.6 | (4.0) | 14.5 | (2.0) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 9.9E | (2.9) | 29.0 | (4.5) | 41.7 | (5.3) | 19.4E | (4.5) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | 10.0E | (3.2) | 27.1 | (4.3) | 47.0 | (6.3) | 15.9E | (5.0) |
| University4 | F | (...) | 10.9E | (2.4) | 44.0 | (6.1) | 42.0 | (5.0) |
| New Brunswick | ||||||||
| Total education | 26.1 | (1.7) | 32.2 | (2.0) | 29.8 | (2.9) | 11.9E | (2.3) |
| High school not completed | 54.0 | (3.9) | 30.5 | (4.4) | 13.5E | (3.8) | F | (...) |
| High school | 20.1 | (3.3) | 38.1 | (3.3) | 32.1 | (2.7) | 9.6E | (2.5) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 18.8E | (4.3) | 38.5 | (6.0) | 33.7 | (5.0) | F | (...) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | F | (...) | 26.3E | (7.6) | 42.0E | (9.5) | 21.5E | (6.6) |
| University4 | F | (...) | 19.2E | (5.5) | 43.8E | (9.1) | 34.0E | (10.3) |
| Quebec | ||||||||
| Total education | 25.1 | (1.0) | 31.5 | (1.0) | 30.4 | (1.0) | 12.9 | (0.7) |
| High school not completed | 55.8 | (2.1) | 30.6 | (1.8) | 11.9 | (1.0) | F | (...) |
| High school | 19.9 | (1.5) | 37.8 | (2.3) | 32.9 | (2.2) | 9.4 | (0.9) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 12.6 | (2.1) | 31.6 | (4.0) | 40.4 | (3.6) | 15.3E | (2.6) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | 13.5E | (3.3) | 32.2 | (3.6) | 38.9 | (3.3) | 15.5 | (2.1) |
| University4 | 5.4E | (1.0) | 22.9 | (2.8) | 41.3 | (3.0) | 30.4 | (2.4) |
| Ontario | ||||||||
| Total education | 22.7 | (0.8) | 25.8 | (1.6) | 33.5 | (2.1) | 18.1 | (1.4) |
| High school not completed | 51.0 | (3.2) | 28.0 | (3.0) | 16.4 | (2.2) | 4.6E | (1.5) |
| High school | 18.6 | (2.1) | 30.1 | (3.1) | 37.7 | (3.1) | 13.6E | (2.5) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 19.1E | (4.6) | 27.6E | (5.4) | 40.4 | (5.1) | 12.9E | (4.1) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | 11.7E | (2.2) | 24.4 | (4.0) | 41.1 | (6.3) | 22.7E | (3.9) |
| University4 | 5.4E | (1.0) | 17.9 | (2.8) | 39.3 | (4.1) | 37.4 | (3.2) |
| Manitoba | ||||||||
| Total education | 19.2 | (1.0) | 27.7 | (1.2) | 36.9 | (2.0) | 16.2 | (1.6) |
| High school not completed | 41.4 | (2.8) | 35.2 | (3.0) | 19.9 | (3.2) | F | (...) |
| High school | 13.5 | (2.0) | 26.7 | (2.9) | 43.7 | (2.6) | 16.1 | (2.1) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 11.3E | (3.4) | 31.0 | (4.5) | 43.1 | (4.9) | F | (...) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | F | (...) | 24.0E | (5.0) | 44.8 | (6.2) | 22.2E | (4.9) |
| University4 | F | (...) | 17.4E | (3.1) | 43.2 | (5.0) | 34.8 | (4.6) |
| Saskatchewan | ||||||||
| Total education | 14.6 | (1.5) | 26.0 | (2.2) | 38.6 | (2.7) | 20.7 | (2.9) |
| High school not completed | 34.7 | (3.6) | 38.0 | (4.2) | 22.6E | (4.3) | F | (...) |
| High school | 11.0E | (3.6) | 24.8E | (5.7) | 45.0 | (5.5) | 19.2E | (4.7) |
| Trade-vocational2 | F | (...) | 25.4E | (6.3) | 48.8E | (9.2) | F | (...) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | F | (...) | 21.0E | (6.3) | 48.4E | (8.4) | 25.6E | (6.7) |
| University4 | F | (...) | 13.2E | (4.3) | 38.5E | (7.7) | 46.5 | (7.7) |
| Alberta | ||||||||
| Total education | 14.8 | (1.2) | 25.4 | (1.4) | 37.2 | (1.9) | 22.6 | (1.5) |
| High school not completed | 37.8 | (3.4) | 31.8 | (3.8) | 23.4 | (2.9) | F | (...) |
| High school | 8.8E | (2.4) | 30.6 | (3.5) | 43.2 | (3.0) | 17.3 | (2.2) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 12.2E | (4.0) | 26.8E | (5.5) | 44.2E | (8.1) | F | (...) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | 7.8E | (1.9) | 22.6E | (5.4) | 43.1 | (5.1) | 26.5 | (4.2) |
| University4 | F | (...) | 13.3E | (3.2) | 38.6 | (3.1) | 45.4 | (4.5) |
| British Columbia | ||||||||
| Total education | 17.4 | (1.1) | 22.9 | (1.6) | 35.3 | (1.6) | 24.4 | (1.3) |
| High school not completed | 40.5 | (3.1) | 29.0 | (2.8) | 23.7 | (2.8) | 6.7E | (1.7) |
| High school | 15.1 | (2.2) | 23.8 | (2.8) | 40.6 | (3.3) | 20.5 | (2.6) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 8.4E | (2.4) | 30.1E | (5.8) | 44.3 | (5.1) | 17.1E | (4.7) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | 8.3E | (2.2) | 22.1E | (4.5) | 37.1 | (5.4) | 32.4 | (4.5) |
| University4 | 5.4E | (1.5) | 12.4E | (2.4) | 34.9 | (3.3) | 47.3 | (3.5) |
| Yukon | ||||||||
| Total education | 10.8 | (1.3) | 24.7 | (2.3) | 39.6 | (2.6) | 24.9 | (2.1) |
| High school not completed | 31.3E | (5.3) | 37.9 | (5.2) | 25.1E | (5.4) | F | (...) |
| High school | 6.6E | (1.7) | 26.5 | (3.7) | 46.9 | (5.3) | 20.0E | (4.3) |
| Trade-vocational2 | F | (...) | 26.6E | (8.0) | 44.2E | (10.9) | F | (...) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | F | (...) | 23.1E | (7.5) | 41.9E | (10.6) | 28.7E | (8.8) |
| University4 | x | (...) | F | (...) | 40.0 | (5.4) | 47.3 | (6.3) |
| Northwest Territories | ||||||||
| Total education | 20.2 | (1.8) | 25.9 | (2.6) | 33.8 | (2.2) | 20.1 | (2.0) |
| High school not completed | 44.6 | (4.2) | 32.8 | (3.3) | 19.8 | (3.3) | F | (...) |
| High school | 11.9E | (3.8) | 27.4E | (6.1) | 38.5 | (4.8) | 22.2E | (5.0) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 17.9E | (5.8) | 34.5E | (7.6) | 34.5E | (9.9) | F | (...) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | F | (...) | 25.3E | (7.8) | 48.6E | (8.3) | 20.0E | (4.6) |
| University4 | F | (...) | 9.3E | (3.0) | 39.5E | (7.5) | 47.9 | (7.1) |
| Nunavut | ||||||||
| Total education | 46.9 | (2.4) | 26.9 | (2.4) | 18.5 | (2.4) | 7.7E | (1.4) |
| High school not completed | 68.4 | (3.5) | 24.5 | (2.8) | F | (...) | x | (...) |
| High school | 15.5E | (4.5) | 38.1E | (7.3) | 37.4E | (6.4) | F | (...) |
| Trade-vocational2 | 41.6E | (9.0) | 29.5E | (9.7) | 24.2E | (8.0) | x | (...) |
| Non-university postsecondary3 | F | (...) | F | (...) | F | (...) | x | (...) |
| University4 | x | (...) | 21.8E | (6.3) | 38.9E | (8.8) | 37.5E | (9.6) |
| 1. Document proficiency reflects the skills needed to understand forms or graphics, such as job applications, maps and timetables. Level 1 denotes the lowest proficiency level; Level 5, the highest. Since only a small proportion of the population actually reached Level 5, whenever results are presented by proficiency level, Levels 4 and 5 are combined. Level 3 is generally considered the minimum desired level of competence. 2. A trade or vocational certificate, an apprenticeship certificate, or a university transfer program. 3. A non-university certificate or diploma from a community college, CEGEP, school of nursing or similar program at this level, excluding university transfer programs. 4. A university degree, diploma or certificate at the bachelor's level or below or above the bachelor degree level. Note: PCEIP's D5 indicator was developed to present information from the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey. PCEIP 2007 presented an overview of the literacy domains (prose proficiency, document proficiency, numeracy, and problem-solving), then focused on prose proficiency. In the PCEIP June 2008 updates, the D5 series was continued and presented information on numeracy. Data source: International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey, 2003, Statistics Canada. Table source: Adapted from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Statistics Canada. 2005. Building on our Competencies: Canadian Results of the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey 2003. Catalogue no. 81-617-XIE. Ottawa.Updated December 16, 2008. |
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