Future of work
A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labour market.
In May 2025, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development proposed the Working For Workers Seven Act. This act advocates for several worker protections against both employer exploitation and tariff-related impacts, in conjunction with many other important initiatives.
Noting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s report that Canadians lost $47 million to employment fraud in 2024 (including $15 million of losses in Ontario), the act includes a legal requirement for job-posting platforms, such as Indeed, to include an accessible way for job seekers to report fraudulent public job advertisements. Other protections are focused on preventing employer exploitation. These include data privacy for workers and measures to ensure employers submit correct information to the government and make payments to support injured workers.
The act also includes protections for workers who are terminated due to tariffs. For example:
- Affected workers now receive up to three (unpaid) days off to search for jobs or employment services.
- Employers must provide affected workers with resources to support skills training and job searching.
- Temporary layoffs are extended past the previous 35-week limit, which allows the employment relationship to continue for longer before termination provisions are triggered.
Other initiatives also greatly support the acceleration of skills development, including expediting the construction of training centres, increasing funding for mobile training to support youth interested in hands-on skilled trades, and establishing more apprenticeship opportunities.