Polygon Created with Sketch. Home | Research

Valuing skills in Canada: A statistical approach

In this research, we examine the relationship between skills and income, considering which skills have a strong positive association with earning and which have a negative association. As the Canadian economy becomes more knowledge centric and service based, what will be the demand for workers who can manage and perform more cognitively challenging tasks? In which occupations will these skills be more necessary and common. And which skills will tend to have lesser value in the job market?

Read the impact paper to get our full analysis.

Young woman woodworking by drill-machine

Key findings

When looked at individually, we see that nearly all skills are positively associated with earnings. But when looking at whole skill sets, we see that some skills have a strong positive association with earnings, while other skills show a negative association.

The five most valuable skills are troubleshooting, operations monitoring, time management, reading comprehension, and monitoring.

These skills are cognitively intensive and tend to be more common for management-level occupations, as well as for some jobs that need stronger technical proficiency. As the Canadian economy continues to become more knowledge centric and service based, demand for workers who can manage and perform more cognitively challenging tasks will increase.

Related content

Research

Diabetic foot care and lower limb preservation: Evolving a value-based health care initiative in Ontario

This issue briefing examines the contextual specifics of the diabetes foot care and limb preservation (DFCLP) pathway components, providers, and care settings involved, and the patient populations they serve.
A woman in a grey blazer and a man in a blue shirt sit on wooden tiered seating, focused on a digital tablet they are holding together in a modern, sunlit atrium.
Research

Pathways to Opportunity: Addressing Barriers to Labour Force Participation in a Changing World of Work

Pathways to Opportunity is an evidence-informed pilot that supports social assistance clients facing complex barriers to employment. This report describes the service model, its rationale, objectives, and key elements.
Research

The skills to work together: Strengthening interprofessional collaboration in diabetic foot care

Which skills do healthcare professionals in Canada need to bring to interprofessional foot care teams? What are the three types of necessary skill sets for interprofessional collaboration described in this briefing?
View all Projects