Reimagining Career Services

Canada’s world of work is changing rapidly due to automation, the rise of gig work, climate change, demographic aging, changing trade patterns and the lingering effects of the pandemic. These structural shifts have disrupted career pathways and placed new demands on workers and employers alike. However, Canada’s existing employment and career services system has not kept pace with these changes.

Many unemployed individuals face intersecting barriers—poverty, unstable housing, health challenges, and limited childcare—that make it difficult to secure and sustain employment. Traditional services often prioritize quick job placement over long-term stability, which can push people into low-wage or precarious roles and lead to repeated unemployment cycles.

Mid-career workers face a different gap: they must adapt to technological change and shifting industries, yet most services only become available once workers lose their jobs. This leaves millions without proactive, accessible support to navigate career transitions while employed.

Similarly, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up the majority of Canadian businesses, lack structured, affordable support for recruitment, retention, and workforce development. Labour shortages, accelerated turnover, and trade-related pressures have intensified the need for practical, accessible employer-focused workforce solutions.

At the same time, career development practitioners (CDPs) face a fragmented professional landscape characterised by inconsistent training, emerging national standards, and limited recognition. As disruption increases the complexity of client needs, practitioners require stronger tools, professional development pathways, and institutional support.

Collectively, these gaps represent systemic weaknesses that limit Canada’s ability to respond effectively to ongoing labour market transformation. RCS was designed to address these shortcomings through innovation, testing, and evidence generation.