New funding call to advance policy-relevant labour market research using PIAAC data in Canada
Toronto, November 28, 2025 — The Future Skills Centre (FSC) is inviting Canadian researchers and research organizations to apply for funding through a new open call for proposals that will tap into the potential of the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) dataset.
With the release of Cycle 2 of PIAAC data, Canada has a valuable opportunity to deepen its understanding of how foundational skills influence labour market outcomes, productivity, and quality of life. The application deadline is January 6, 2025. Visit Open Call for Proposals to apply.
Through funding from the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program, this call, Strengthening Canada’s Skills with PIAAC Research, builds on a research agenda that focuses on the role of skills in shaping Canada’s economy and well-being.
Proposals should use Cycle 2 of the PIAAC dataset to:
- Address critical gaps in evidence by examining skills as both drivers of economic and social benefits, and as outcomes influenced by how people gain and retain skills over time.
- Strengthen research infrastructure and capacity for using PIAAC data by mentoring a junior researcher and share methodological insights with other research teams.
- Mobilize PIAAC findings in accessible formats that policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders can use to boost workforce policies and programs.
“PIAAC is one of the richest sources of data on adult skills available, and this offers Canada a valuable opportunity to build evidence around how skills can drive productivity and prosperity,” says Dr. Tricia Williams, Director of Research, Evidence, and Knowledge Mobilization at FSC. “This call is about enabling research teams to use this data, harnessing the research ecosystem to address the real challenges facing Canada’s labour market.”
FSC welcomes partners to meaningfully integrate equity, diversity, inclusion and Reconciliation principles into the design, delivery, and analysis of research projects — whether through inclusive leadership, diverse research teams, partnerships that engage equity-deserving groups, and disaggregated analysis.
Application resources:
About FSC
The Future Skills Centre (FSC) is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to driving innovation in skills development so that everyone in Canada can be prepared for the future of work. We partner with policymakers, researchers, practitioners, employers and labour groups, and post-secondary institutions to solve pressing labour market challenges and ensure that everyone can benefit from relevant lifelong learning opportunities. We are founded by a consortium whose members are Toronto Metropolitan University, Blueprint, and The Conference Board of Canada, and are funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program.
Media Contact
Annamaria Nunziata
Communications Manager
Future Skills Centre
communications@fsc-ccf.ca
647-242-6156