Skills Training
State of Skills
Meeting the Demand for Talent
Building a resilient national talent pool requires a shift from traditional credential-based hiring and training approaches towards skills-first practices and demand-driven training. These efforts must be paired with increased employer investments in training, and the active removal of systemic barriers for equity-deserving groups.
Research
Workforce Training in Canadian SMEs: Barriers and Promising Models
This project responds to the need for a clearer understanding of the factors shaping SME upskilling and the conditions under which training investments are more effective.
September 1, 2026
31 minutes
Podcast
Season 6 | Episode 5
Supporting Indigenous Community Health Workers: Lessons from Ontario and Alaska
In this bonus episode of the Future Skills Podcast, we explore the critical role Indigenous community health workers play in supporting health and well-being in...
Featuring: Jeremy Strachan, Bethany Haalboom, Janet Gordon, Madison Pierce, Dr. Michelle Hensel
Research
Bridging the Digital Skills Gap for Older Adults
This report examines how challenges related to affordability, health, design and usability, and infrastructure intersect with social, knowledge, attitudes, and emerging technology barriers shaping digital exclusion in older adults.
Project
Testing Innovative AI for Career and Skills Navigation
This project investigated the feasibility, value, and implementation conditions of using generative AI to support career navigation. It did so across two related phases.
Research
Amped Up: Upskilling Canada's Heavy Duty Vehicle Mechanics to Support the Transition to Electric School Buses
This project examined how heavy-duty diesel mechanics can be effectively upskilled to support the transition to electric school buses.
Project
Professional Practice Certificate: Propelling Careers through Essential Workplace Skills
This project offers a scalable and replicable model that has the potential to close long-standing education and skills gaps in Northern and Indigenous communities.
Research
Unlocking Canada’s Skills Potential: Training Pathways, Participation, and Outcomes Beyond Post-Secondary
Canada’s ability to address persistent skills shortages increasingly depends on how well its training system can keep pace with rapidly evolving labour market demands. While post‐secondary institutions (PSIs) provide a critical foundation for skills development, they are not designed to meet all workforce needs on their own.
Research
Supporting Production Workers in the Shift to Electric Vehicles
This project examined how displaced auto workers are experiencing this transition and whether current training and credentialing systems are helping them move into new opportunities.