Poor cousin no more: Lessons for adult education in Canada from the past and New Zealand. IRPP Insight 43. Institute for Research on Public Policy.
This paper presents policy recommendations for federal, provincial and territorial governments to improve Canada’s adult education system by addressing gaps in skill development, assessment and certification practices. Based on previous reform efforts and lessons learned from a successful case-study in Aotearoa, New Zealand, the author argues for several areas of improvement. These include 1)…Read More
Mitacs skills for innovation: Sharpening Canada’s skills advantage. Mitacs.
In this report, organizations and interns involved in the Mitacs Elevate and Accelerate program are surveyed about the generalized and specialized skills required for innovation. General skills include creativity, problem-solving, risk assessment and risk-taking. Growing evidence shows that basic digital literacy and STEM skills are needed by everyone involved in innovation. Specialized skills may…Read More
Highly educated newcomers in Canada. Scotiabank Economics.
In Canada, more than 400,000 new jobs have been added to the labour force since the onset of the pandemic, yet more than one million jobs remain vacant. As labour shortages tighten across Canada, more needs to be done to encourage the participation of marginalized populations in the workforce, including women, older Canadians and…Read More
Beyond blue and white collar: A skills-based approach to Canadian job groupings. The Conference Board of Canada and the Future Skills Centre.
This report details a variety of labour market indicators — including average income, risk of automation and unemployment, and employment growth based on a 10-year employment forecast — for each of the eight new groupings of Canadian jobs: 1) STEM professionals, 2) knowledge workers, 3) personal services, 4) supervisors, 5) technical trades, 6) non-technical…Read More
Survey report: Impact of processing delays of work permits and business visas on Canadian employers. CERC.
Immigration backlogs have ballooned throughout the pandemic. In June 2022, the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC) conducted a survey with organizations that regularly access the International Mobility Program (IMP). Reportedly, 97% of organizations hire talent through work permit programs and 53% hire via economic immigration pathways. Recent IRCC processing delays, however, have a negative…Read More
Proof point: Canada’s labour shortages will outlive a recession. RBC Economics.
Labour shortages, aging workers and the pandemic’s impact on the economy are accelerating challenges faced by Canadian employers. As of June 2022, businesses reported 70% more job openings across the country than before the pandemic. Research projects that Canada is only about halfway through the wave of labour force exits, with labour force participation…Read More
Lives put on hold: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canada’s youth. Commentary No. 624. C.D. Howe Institute.
Youth in Canada were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic across various metrics, including health, social inclusion, education and workforce integration. Educational disruptions because of school closures led to widening learning gaps and employment gaps due to lockdowns, cancelled work-integrated learning programming and other changes. At the federal level, Canada has taken steps to…Read More
Immigration Nation: New Canadians are vital to an aging society.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the flow of new migrants to Canada. However, these numbers are slowly rebounding as borders have re-opened and pandemic restrictions have eased. Given that low birth rates continue across the country, population growth through immigration has become an important driver of Canada’s economic success. At the same time, tight…Read More
Canada’s immigration advantage – A survey of major employers.
Based on a survey of 80 member companies of the Business Council of Canada, this report highlights the experiences and challenges that companies face in hiring skilled immigrants from outside Canada. More than half of respondents said they actively recruit workers through the immigration system, and many expect to increase their use of this…Read More
Under Pressure: Tight Labour Markets Are Driving Major Change.
The workplace has shifted since the onset of the global pandemic. This report examines Canada’s tight labour market and its implications for the economy. Across the country, job vacancies continue to increase while simultaneously, unemployment has reached a record low rate (i.e., 5.2% in April 2022). Employers have been responding by changing their hiring…Read More