Across Canada
Project
Development of Canada’s National Occupational Standards for a Sustainable Blue Economy
Canada boasts the world’s largest coastline; however, its ocean-related industries contribute only 1% to the GDP, significantly trailing behind other nations. This project identified a pressing need for specialized training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to bridge the skills gap in ocean-related occupations in the sustainable blue economy (SBE), including marine transport and ocean technology.
Research
Starting a new business in Canada: A report from the Survey on Employment and Skills
This study provides insights into Canada’s entrepreneurial landscape, highlighting regional differences, demographic disparities, and motivations for self-employment.
Project
Micro-credentialing for the Canadian Aviation and Aerospace Industry
The Canadian aviation and aerospace industry currently faces challenges recruiting, training and retaining a qualified workforce. To address this issue, the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace (CCAA) developed and tested a digital learning resource and a stackable micro-credential framework.
Project
Beyond hours: Piloting an alternative to tracking and understanding apprentice competency in Canada
The persistence of labour and skill shortages within the trades is exacerbated by challenges with on-the-job training and skills recognition. The prevailing methods to document and formally recognize the skills that apprentices acquire through workplace learning are outdated.
In the Media
Opinion | Young workers aren’t going to take it anymore
Myer Siemiatycki, Andrea Noack, Asmita Bhutani, Sophia Ricciardone, Mackenzie Agard Contributors , Toronto Star | August 20, 2024
An alarming new study by the Toronto Foundation highlights deepening adversities faced by young people in Toronto aged 18 to 29. These include deteriorating mental health and widespread financial insecurity. This is a generation whose trajectory has been most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent economic shock waves.
Research
Teaching Green Skills What Actions Are Post-Secondary Institutions Taking?
The federal government has committed to having the country achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Post-secondary institutions (PSIs) play a key role in helping Canada reach this goal because they equip students with the skills and know-how needed to transition to a more sustainable economy. These multi-faceted competencies are broadly considered to be green skills.
State of Skills
What Works for Newcomer Integration
Key Insights Industry-specific, employer-driven initiatives have been successful in accelerating and enhancing the employment prospects of newcomers. The collaborative approach of engaging with employers directly...
Research
Skills and productivity: Which skills shortages are impacting Canadian productivity?
Canada has a productivity problem. Labour productivity growth—the amount of output produced per hour worked—has stalled. The Canadian economy’s labour productivity at the end of 2023 was around the same as it was in 2017. This is the second time that Canada’s productivity growth has been notably weaker than the United States’ in
recent decades, with the first occurring between 2003 and 2012.