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Understanding Future Skills: Emergence of an Ecosystem for the Digital Economy

The focus of this report is on the emergence of the digital economy ecosystem in Quebec, with a specific focus on the Montreal artificial intelligence cluster.

The report includes a mapping exercise that identifies and traces the connections between the many intermediary agencies involved in supporting the various initiatives and relationships that define this cluster. It also involves an exploration of the interface between different policy initiatives and institutions and how they have helped or hindered the development of the cluster.

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The authors also examine the impact of the digital economy, especially how various stakeholders present in this ecosystem – governments, consulting firms, employers, trade unions, and others – frame issues related to the impact of its arrival and growth on jobs and work. Critically, the shift in high demand skills brought about by the emergence of the digital economy, and the interaction of this shift on the other factors influencing the emergence of Quebec’s digital economy ecosystem, will form a central analytical thread that runs throughout the report. Correspondingly, the authors conclude the report with an exploration of the wider implications of their findings for all Canadians and the various skills strategies being developed with the aim of enabling other parts of the country to successfully navigate the future of skills.

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OpportuNext

The OpportuNext platform, developed by the Conference Board of Canada with support from the Future Skills Centre, addresses this gap by providing a free, bilingual and user-friendly digital tool that helps users explore career options based on skill similarity, salary prospects and job outlook.
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Thriving Workplaces: A Dual-Client Approach to Career Services

The project aims to improve employment outcomes by engaging both work seekers and employers in structured career navigation activities.
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Indigenous Professionals Needed: Increasing Indigenous Representation in Healthcare in Canadaexternal link icon

This project will develop insights that can be used to increase both the Indigenous talent pool and professional development for Indigenous people in healthcare professions in Canada.
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