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Future Skills

Future skills – basic literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional skills – are important across all economic sectors and occupations. Figuring out who and how to address skills gaps is key to building an inclusive workforce with upward mobility.

Professional women working with her laptop next to machinery.
Research

Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Alternative Pathways

Digital skills and digital careers are part of every industry’s future. Yet employers say they can’t find workers with the information and communication technology (ICT)...
Photo of busy city street
Research

Understanding the Future of Skills: Trends and Global Policy Responses

Studies on the future of work tend to focus on the jobs at risk of automation, with projections varying widely from 6% to 59%. Sunil Johal and Michael Urban take a different approach in reviewing eight expert reports and the actions taken by nine countries to prepare for the challenges ahead. They distill key lessons for Canada to ensure workers are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s economy, whatever shape it takes.
A group of individuals looking at computer screens.
Research

The Future is Social and Emotionalexternal link icon

Demand for skilled employees is not new, but the skills considered “in demand” have evolved. While developing skills is a life-long endeavour, the skills that Canadians learn through post-secondary training are key to workplace success. Demand for social and emotional skills is growing. Are we doing enough to prepare Canadians for the evolving workplace?
Three people with jet-packs flying above the clouds holding a SkillsNext banner.
Research

Skills Next Series

The Public Policy Forum, the Diversity Institute, and the Future Skills Centre have joined together to publish Skills Next, a series that explores what is working in workplaces, universities, and the labour market – and where workers are falling through the gaps in our skills training system. Each report focuses on one issue — such as the impact of technology in the workplace, gig work, digital skills, and barriers to employment that some marginalized groups experience -- and reviews the existing state of knowledge on this topic and identifies areas in need of additional research.
A man and a woman discussing work.
Research

Social and Emotional Skills

In this multi-year project, our team of researchers is exploring the trends, challenges, and opportunities related to social and emotional skills (SES) development and the future of work.
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Research

Understanding Future Skills: Case of the Montreal Aerospace Cluster

The report examines how organizations contribute to the development and management of talent at the regional level, with a specific focus on the case study of the Montreal aerospace cluster.
Individuals walking on a busy subway or train platform.
Research

Employment Transitions in Canadian Metropolitan Areas

This report examines job loses and gains across Canadian metropolitan areas during the 21st century.
A worker looking up at an oil rig.
Project

Transition to a New Tomorrow

Unique professional development program to support mid-career oil and gas workers
Three students working in front of laptops in a library setting.
Project

Supporting Mid-Career Workers with Disabilities

Assessing tools and resources for mid-career workers with disabilities