Assessing Data Literacy and Training needs

The primary objective of the Data Strategy Roadmap for the Federal Public Service related to the People and Culture aspect of the strategy is that the government has the talent and capacity needed to manage, interpret, use and understand data. One of the barriers identified to realizing this vision is the lack of data literacy skills among the public servants. To better understand the current gap, the Strategy calls for better measurement and training related to data literacy. Statistics Canada is currently working with other federal departments to seek ways to measure data literacy levels and training needs among Government of Canada employees.

Data literacy is generally defined as able to understand information extracted from data and summarized in simple statistics, and able to use them to inform decisions. A review of various competency maps and frameworks conducted by Statistics Canada identified a range of competencies and skills associated with data literacy including data management, evaluation, analysis, interpretation, and visualization to name a few. Federal government departments are also seeking guidance on the best approach with providing their employees with the data literacy training they need to ensure that overall levels of data literacy are elevated.

The purpose of this request for standing offer (RFSO) is to put in place a Standing Offer with a supplier having an established tool to measure data literacy at the individual or person level that can be used among public servants in Canada to: 1) provide a baseline measure of data literacy and 2) identify training needs.