Future of work
A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labour market.
Key Takeaway: Investing in tomorrow’s workforce through adequate funding and support for the post-secondary education sector is critical.
This report highlights how the pandemic has further stretched the already strained post-secondary education (PSE) sector’s resources and the need for long-term planning to invest in Canada’s future workforce. PSE is critical to socioeconomic mobility, a highly skilled workforce, improved health outcomes and Canada’s global position in research. Key concerns in the sector centre on declining public funding, decreasing institutional autonomy, increasing part-time and contract faculty, increasing vulnerability to political and donor interests, reliance on a constantly changing international education market, the exclusion of students through high tuition, and limited mental health, technological and academic supports. Without adequate investment, PSE’s research capacity and the accessibility of education could be further eroded, depriving Canada of the public benefits of PSE. The task force’s recommendations are built on six fundamental principles including the provincial and federal governments working together to increase core funding for universities and colleges and for creating an expert panel to formulate a plan to support sustainable and equitable internationalization.