Future of work

The authors argue that Canada needs a comprehensive information system that links the skills acquired through training and education programs to those sought in the job market. This system should have the following interlocking components: 1) a database of training and education programs and providers; 2) a classification system of skills and other job requirements that reflects how job seekers and employers talk about skills; and 3) a way to link the training database to skills and other work requirements. They propose these three components should guide the creation of a data repository that is kept up to date with constant user feedback. They note, however, that designing and implementing each of these components is a massive undertaking requiring collaboration between employers, training providers and government agencies at all levels. Nevertheless, they argue that this effort will pay off in the long term and lead to actionable data on the training options available to workers, while linking those data to in-demand jobs.