Aligning skills development with labour market need

Despite Canada having one of the highest levels of educational attainment in the world, employers regularly complain about a lack of skills. Skills are developed in a variety of settings—including education, work, family, and community. Labour market information systems are key to aligning skills availability with demand. Improvements in information technology make it much easier to understand which skills employers are demanding. Better alignment may come about through multiple strategies such as improved labour market information systems, a shorter school-to-work transition, partnerships between employers and educators, and informed employers. Canadian employer surveys regularly cite skills shortages as a key business challenge. Large, medium-sized, and small companies all suggest that they have difficulty finding people with the right skills for available jobs.