McMaster research: literacy, numeracy and problem‑solving boost civic engagement and well‑being
McMaster researchers Emalie Hendel and Victor Kuperman analyze OECD survey data covering more than 12,000 Canadians in the project “Social Returns to Skills: Barriers, Enablers and Changes over Time,” funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program. They report that higher basic‑skill proficiency — reading, numeracy and problem solving — is linked to greater social trust, volunteering and better self‑reported health, with varying effects across demographic groups.
The project measures the social returns of foundational skills using OECD data. McMaster highlights that Canada ranks well overall (5th in health, 8th in volunteering, 9th in social trust and political efficacy) but has seen declines since a decade earlier. The team finds that improving literacy, numeracy and problem solving raises trust and civic participation for many groups, while other social factors explain specific trends among youth (16–24), women and recent immigrants. Findings will be shared with policymakers in October 2026 to inform education and community‑focused programs.