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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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The Skills Mirror: An Analysis of Trends, Tensions, and Opportunities of Proposed Projects to FSC

In late 2024, the Future Skills Centre received nearly 900 proposals across multiple funding calls. These proposals offer a unique, system-wide view into Canada’s skills development ecosystem. In partnership with the Behavioural Insights Team, this project analyzed the proposal database to surface shared priorities, emerging challenges, and common approaches to labour market innovation.
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Reimagining Career Services

RCS set out to test new models for career and employment services that respond to the needs of workers, employers, and practitioners in a rapidly changing labour market. Rather than a single intervention, RCS operates as a portfolio of innovation projects co-designed with service partners and piloted in real-world settings.
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National Survey on Skill Demands and Employment Practices in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Our research draws on first-hand experiences to better understand specific labour-related challenges facing SMEs.
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