Future of work
A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labour market.
According to Statistics Canada, the population reached 40 million in June 2023. The Century Initiative has set an aspirational goal of reaching 100 million by 2100. At the same time, the aim is to build the physical and social infrastructure needed to support this population increase. The National Scorecard is an annual benchmark that tracks the nation’s progress toward achieving these goals and notes the areas where improvement is needed. The scorecard focuses on five key areas:
- Immigration
- Economy, innovation and entrepreneurship
- Education, skills and employment
- Support for children and families
- Infrastructure and environment
Canada is renowned for attracting immigrants; however, administrative backlogs and increases in the cost of living affect the county’s global reputation. Barriers to recognizing immigrants’ credentials and prior professional experience also impact national prosperity and growth. The scorecard emphasizes that a bolder Canada requires increased investment in infrastructure—such as affordable housing and public transit—to support 100 million people. This is especially true for the small- to medium-sized cities that will experience exponential growth in the future. Additionally, climate action is critical to a sustainable plan for the country moving forward. Finally, increased investments by both the public and private sectors in supporting skills-building, training and career navigation could help address labour shortages now and in the future.