Bridging the skills gap: Workforce development 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. KEY TAKEAWAYS; Jim Stanford makes the link between low business investment in equipment and skills training, and a halving of productivity growth in Canada and OECD nations. Disruption in the relationship between employers and workers — like the gig economy — is a reflection of our past choices, rather than the inevitable onward march of technology, and creating better jobs also lies within our power.