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.
Research Network
An expanding and diverse group of scholars, experts, practitioners and other stakeholders actively engaged in research on future skills and the future of work.
Featured Research
Research call on the future of skills and work in a digital economy
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Future Skills Centre are launching
a Knowledge Synthesis Grant competition on Skills and Work in the Digital Economy.
Skills Next Series
a series that explores what is working in workplaces, universities, and the labour market – and where workers are falling through the gaps in our skills training system.
Cross-Cultural STEM
An examination of the role of cross-cultural STEM curricula and related supports in helping First Nation, Metis, and Inuit students successfully graduate to post-secondary STEM fields and successfully graduate from post-secondary STEM fields to relevant employment opportunities. This project will identify best practices for designing, teaching, and supporting cross-cultural Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curricula for Indigenous learners in secondary and post-secondary fields of study.
Adapting to the Changing World of Work
The 2020 Survey on Employment and Skills explores the perspectives and experiences of Canadians relating to education, skills and employment, including perceptions of job security, the impact of technological change, and the value of different forms of training.
Research call on the future of skills and work in a digital economy
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Future Skills Centre are launching
a Knowledge Synthesis Grant competition on Skills and Work in the Digital Economy.
Digital Differences: The impact of automation on the Indigenous economy in Canada
How is technological change, and specifically automation, affecting Indigenous workers in Canada? Digital Differences looks at the impact of automation on the Indigenous economy by industry and region.
Understanding the Nature and Experience of Gig Work in Canada
Gig work & gig workers are on the rise, fueled by technology that makes this form of work more easily accessible. What does this mean for Canada’s labour market and how should we respond? This report explores what we know, and what we need to know, about the nature of Canada’s gig economy and the experiences of its workers.
Mapping the Landscape: Indigenous Skills Training and Jobs in Canada
Indigenous businesses are growing and — importantly — creating employment for others. Further, self-employment and entrepreneurship is increasing. If there is an opportunity for the next generation, and for current adult workers, to leapfrog into the future of Canadian work, it may very well be through Indigenous-led business.
Sustainable Northern Livelihoods: A Primer
Economic growth in Canada’s North has outpaced the rest of the country. This primer discusses the challenges still faced by Indigenous people in the North, who continue to experience socio-economic disparities
Incorporating Indigenous Cultures and Realities in STEM
How are organizations in Canada working to increase Indigenous representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers? This primer introduces a novel typology based on 100-plus recent Canadian initiatives.
Indigenous Financial Management: Finally Finding Balance – A Primer
This paper outlines research on the career paths of Indigenous finance and management professionals, with an aim toward attracting more Indigenous people to careers in those fields.