Public Libraries: Helping People Find Work, Build Skills and Improve Their Quality of Life

To mark Ontario Public Library Week, we’re exploring how public libraries help people enter the labour force, succeed at work and improve their quality of life.  Finding a job takes more than knowing where employers are hiring. It can require reliable internet access, a computer, an updated résumé, new skills and the confidence to take the next step. Succeeding at work often means continuing to learn as responsibilities and technology change.

Public libraries make many of these resources accessible. Through technology, learning opportunities, information and community spaces, they support people entering or returning to the labour force, developing their careers and participating in community life.  Research from Statistics Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada and the library sector helps explain why these services matter.

Removing barriers to finding work

Durham Workforce Authority’s September 2026 Labour Force Report recorded 28,000 unemployed residents in the Oshawa Census Metropolitan Area, with an unemployment rate of 9.8 per cent. Accessible job-search and learning resources are particularly important in this environment.

For someone without a computer or reliable internet at home, submitting an application can be difficult. A smartphone may be enough to browse postings, but preparing a résumé, uploading documents, and completing an online assessment can be more challenging.

The Bridge 2023/2024 report, available through the Ontario Library Association’s research collection and prepared by Toronto Public Library, surveyed nearly 6,500 respondents across 22 Ontario public libraries. Fifty-nine per cent said the library provided access to technology they would not otherwise have had, rising to 69 per cent among respondents from low-income households.

Locally, Oshawa Public Libraries reports more than 1,300 public computer sessions and 5,000 Wi-Fi connections each week, based on its 2024 statistics. These services provide access to employment resources, education and everyday information.

For a job seeker, that access can make the difference between seeing an opportunity and being able to apply.

Strengthening the skills people need for work

Literacy remains an important workforce issue, including among adults who have completed their formal education.

Statistics Canada reports that 19 per cent of Canadians aged 16 to 65 scored at or below Level 1 in literacy, based on 2022 assessment data. People at Level 1 can find specific information in short, familiar texts, while those below that level generally understand only short, simple sentences. More complex written information can be more challenging.

These findings help explain why accessible learning opportunities matter throughout adulthood. Reading workplace instructions, understanding training materials and completing applications all require people to interpret and use information.

Employment and Social Development Canada’s September 2026 research summary identifies literacy, numeracy and problem-solving as foundations for learning, adapting to change and performing more complex tasks. It also connects these skills with employment, earnings and everyday wellbeing.

This research does not measure library outcomes directly. It does establish the importance of the foundational skills that library collections, learning resources and technology services can help people practise and develop.

Supporting education and career development

Entering or returning to the labour force may involve exploring a different occupation, completing training or identifying skills that transfer from previous experience.

Libraries can support these steps. Oshawa Public Libraries offers CareerCruising for career exploration and planning, alongside other business and career resources. These tools can help residents prepare for discussions with employment counsellors, educators and training providers.

The Bridge report found that 35 per cent of respondents used library technology for educational activities. Among that group, 90 per cent reported that library access helped them advance their education. Separately, 28 per cent used library technology to develop employable skills or pursue career goals, and 77 per cent of that group reported progress because of library access. These are self-reported outcomes, rather than verified job placements.

Libraries can also complement specialized employment services. Between appointments, a job seeker may need somewhere to research employers, complete coursework, revise an application or explore postings through Jobs First Durham. Library resources can help them follow through on an employment or training plan.

Helping people succeed after they are hired

Learning does not stop when someone finds a job. Employees may need to use unfamiliar software, communicate more effectively, take on supervisory responsibilities or prepare for advancement.

Oshawa Public Libraries provides residents with library-card access to more than 24,000 LinkedIn Learning video courses and learning paths, including technical and creative skills and career development. Access to these resources gives people additional ways to learn without purchasing an individual subscription.

These opportunities connect with skills local employers are seeking. September’s Jobs First Durham report identified communication in 2,473 job postings, management in 2,163 and customer service in 1,829.

Library resources can supplement employer-provided training and formal education. Someone adapting to a new role can review a topic, practise a skill or explore a learning pathway at their own pace.

Building confidence with technology

Access to a device is only part of digital inclusion. People also need the confidence and skills to use it.

The Bridge report found that 82 per cent of respondents became more comfortable with digital technology through library services. Among those introduced to new technology, 93 per cent continued using it. These findings suggest that library support can help people move beyond an initial introduction toward continued use.

That confidence can be useful across daily life, from completing online training and communicating with an employer to accessing government information or staying connected with family.

Improving quality of life and community connection

Libraries’ contributions extend beyond employment. Reading, recreation, creativity and social connection matter whether someone is working, seeking employment, studying, caregiving or retired.

The Bridge survey found that 56 per cent of respondents reported increased community or social engagement through library technology services.

A broader Canadian research initiative also examines these benefits. Released in January 2026, the Canadian Urban Libraries Council’s National Social Impact Study draws on more than 18,000 respondents across 26 urban public library systems, using surveys and interviews to explore libraries’ role in community life and social wellbeing. It expands the evidence base beyond traditional measures such as visits and borrowing.

The Canadian Urban Libraries Council’s 2026 National Social Impact Study highlights several ways libraries support learning, inclusion and quality of life:

  • Expanding access to knowledge: 86 per cent of library users agreed that libraries allow them to discover a broader range of knowledge than they could access on their own.
  • Supporting equal opportunity: 85 per cent of users and 67 per cent of non-users agreed that libraries help level the playing field for people from different backgrounds.
  • Supporting vulnerable residents: 82 per cent of users agreed that libraries play a crucial role in supporting community members who feel vulnerable.
  • Helping newcomers participate: 51 per cent of newcomer library users attended programs in the previous year, compared with 35 per cent of users overall. Interviews highlighted language learning, professional skill development and help navigating life in Canada.
  • Providing space to learn and connect: Interviews described libraries as places to study, work, build relationships and take a break without needing to purchase anything.
  • Delivering widely recognized community value: 90 per cent of users and 70 per cent of non-users agreed that a public library is among the most valuable resources a city can offer its community.

Locally, Oshawa Public Libraries reports more than 30,000 attendances at free programs annually. Its social return on investment analysis, using 2024 statistics, estimates $5.48 in social value for every municipal dollar invested, with approximately $52.4 million in total community benefits. These estimates cover a broad range of library services and benefits; they are not cash revenue or a measure of employment outcomes alone.

For residents, those benefits can take practical forms: affordable access to books and learning materials, a place to explore an interest, or an opportunity to meet others and participate in community activities.

An important partner in workforce development

The research supports a clear role for libraries in helping people access technology, continue learning, pursue career goals and connect with their communities.

For employment service providers, library resources can strengthen a client’s employment plan. For employers, they offer additional learning options for staff. For educators and community organizations, libraries provide spaces and resources that can support participation beyond the classroom or appointment.

Recognizing libraries as workforce development partners means recognizing the practical steps that help people move forward. Preparing an application, completing a course, becoming comfortable with technology and building confidence can all contribute to someone’s ability to participate in working and community life.

Whether a resident is seeking their first job, adapting to a changing workplace or looking for opportunities to learn and connect, their public library can help them take the next step.

Written by Eric Guernsey, Communication Coordinator at the Durham Workforce Authority.  Eric is active in the public library sector, currently serving as Chair of the Oshawa Public Library Board, Vice President of the Ontario Library Boards’ Association and as a member of the Ontario Public Library Guidelines Monitoring and Accreditation Council.

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