Research
Future Skills
Our research will help Canadians — including current and future job-seekers, employers, policy makers, service providers, educators, and researchers — better understand future skills priorities, knowledge gaps, and leading practices, and will help build capacity to address these demands.
Research Resources
Reference Database
A searchable repository on published research addressing “future skills” that will be a useful tool for researchers and individuals interested in the future of work and the future of skills.
Annotated Bibliography
Intended as a useful tool to researchers in need of initial guidance in future skills, this is a list of 39 key academic and “grey literature” publications.
Featured Research
Skills Next Series
Canadians’ needs for skills training and education are changing quickly. Through Skills Next, the Public Policy Forum, the Diversity Institute, and the Future Skills Centre […]
Social and Emotional Skills
In this multi-year project, our team of researchers is exploring the trends, challenges, and opportunities related to social and emotional skills (SES) development and the future of work.
Bridging Education and Skills Gaps through Indigenous-Controlled Post-Secondary Education
This research project will investigate the role Indigenous-controlled post-secondary institutes play in helping First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students achieve academic success and find meaningful employment.
Leveraging the Skills of Social Sciences and Humanities Graduates
Canadians are among the best-educated people on the planet. But are they getting the education they need — particularly in the fields of social sciences and humanities — to maximize their employment prospects in today’s fast-changing workplace?
Return on Investment: Industry Leadership on Upskilling and Reskilling their Workforce
As technology changes the nature of work, Canadian companies must create a culture of continuous learning to ensure employees have the skills they need.
Skills Gaps, Underemployment, and Equity of Labour-Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Canada
While people with disabilities can achieve socially integrated, financially independent lives through secure, well-paid employment, they are often trapped in low-skill jobs at high risk of automation.
Employment Gaps and Underemployment for Racialized Groups and Immigrants in Canada: Current Findings and Future Directions
“Foreign-sounding names” are 20 to 40 per cent less likely to get a call-back for a job interview, depending on company size.
Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Alternative Pathways
Digital skills and digital careers are part of every industry’s future. Yet employers say they can’t find workers with the information and communication technology (ICT) […]
Thinking Twice About Technology and the Future of Work
Technology is being used to change power balances in workplaces and to perpetuate long-standing precarious employment relationships, Jim Stanford argues. But the exploitative practices of the gig economy reflect deliberate choices, rather than the inevitable onward march of technology, and creating better jobs also lies within our power.
Solving the Skills Puzzle: The Missing Piece is Good Information
In a world of work increasingly driven by the supply and demand of skills rather than the qualifications of graduates, employers have trouble finding the workers they need and workers struggle to keep up with changing demands. Emna Braham and Steven Tobin explain how better and more accessible labour market information lies at the heart of clarifying the skills and training needs of today and tomorrow.
Understanding the Future of Skills: Trends and Global Policy Responses
Studies on the future of work tend to focus on the jobs at risk of automation, with projections varying widely from 6% to 59%. Sunil Johal and Michael Urban take a different approach in reviewing eight expert reports and the actions taken by nine countries to prepare for the challenges ahead. They distill key lessons for Canada to ensure workers are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s economy, whatever shape it takes.