Posts by Guest Blog
Guest blog: Navigating labour markets and information as a refugee in Canada
Refugees in Canada encounter significant barriers to accessing labour market information (LMI), and their access varies based on the immigration stream through which they arrive. Those who arrive as refugees frequently rely on informal networks or past experiences to fill information gaps and find employment. We also know that, in Canada, we don’t have enough…Read More
Employer-sponsored skills training vital in Canada’s changing workforce landscape
Dr. Nancy Adossi, Senior Bilingual Policy Analyst with the Future Skills Centre (FSC), reflects on the findings in FSC and LMIC’s recent joint report, Employer-sponsored skills training: A picture of skills training opportunities provided by Canadian employers. In Canada, employer-sponsored training is crucial to ensuring that employees have the necessary skills and knowledge to meet…Read More
Bridging the divide between career services and equity-seeking groups in Canada
Surranna Sandy, CEO of Skills for Change, reflects on what the findings in LMIC and FSC’s recent report on career services in Canada mean for the newcomers and low-income people her organization serves. Recently, the Labour Market Information Council (LMIC) and the Future Skills Centre (FSC) launched a report which sought to understand how adults…Read More
Why aren’t women working in trades? Creating safe and inclusive workplaces for women
Bonnie Douglas, Project Manager at CCWESTT, reflects on why there are so few women in trades and what Canadian employers can do about it. It’s an ongoing challenge: female trade certificate holders consistently earn less than their male counterparts, and women represent less than 10% of certified journeypersons in Canada – and less than 2% in the highest-earning…Read More
Two Ways We Can Connect More Adults to Career Services in Canada
In Canada, only 19% of adults report using career services – lower than in other OECD countries. This week LMIC launched its latest insight report in partnership with the Future Skills Centre (FSC). Are Adults Making Use of Career Services in Canada? looks at the rate at which adults aged 25-64 use career services in…Read More
Strength in Numbers: LMIC, MDB Insight and Vicinity Jobs Harness Big Data
The idea of using online job postings to track labour market trends is not new. Vicinity Jobs started doing this in 2006, in collaboration with Canadian economic development professionals. Since the internet is the go-to place for employers to connect with job seekers, this concept makes perfect sense. The information that employers publish to attract…Read More
LMI Insight Report no. 30, Sectors at Risk: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Tourism Industry
The tourism sector is at the forefront of COVID-19 job losses in Canada. Labour market information on new skills requirements that emerge as a result of these changes will be essential.Read More
Addressing critical workforce needs: Ensuring Canada’s food supply in times of crisis
Until a few weeks ago, most Canadians hadn’t thought much about where their food comes from, who produces it, or if there would be enough for everyone. Panic buying across the country has meant that one week there are no eggs in grocery stores, and the next week there is no flour. Confronted with empty…Read More
How Much Do They Make? Short-Cycle Credentials and Applied Learning at Canada’s Polytechnics
In 2018, Canada ranked first among OECD countries in post-secondary education (PSE) attainment. Our global standing as a leader in delivering PSE is well known. Perhaps less well known is that Canada’s high standing is driven in large part by our polytechnic and college sectors – those delivering what the OECD calls “short-cycle tertiary” education. These programs provide professional knowledge, technical…Read More
Modernizing how information is communicated
We have long heard the call for labour market information – and data more generally – to be communicated and shared with Canadians in a more user-friendly way. This was one of the reasons why the Labour Market Information Council (LMIC) was created. As both the Chief Statistician of Canada and one of the founding Board members…Read More