Canada is facing a critical skills shortage driven by an aging population, rapidly evolving technology, coupled with significant increases in immigration. Employers are struggling to find candidates with the right skills, and the gap between the skills workers have and those employers need is growing. Here’s a closer look at the challenges and how Reboot Plus can help.
The Skills Challenge in Canada
The skills gap in Canada is a multifaceted problem. As our workforce ages, the demand for new skills intensifies. While Canadian employers spend about $240 per employee annually on training, this is significantly less than the $750 invested by OECD peers. This discrepancy highlights an area where Canada lags behind, impacting our overall workforce preparedness.
Future job markets require technical savviness but also a healthy set of non-technical skills like critical thinking, decision-making, and complex problem-solving. Despite the same job titles, many roles will demand a new mix of skills in the coming decade. Without substantial investment in training and upskilling, this gap will continue to widen, affecting both productivity and economic growth.
The Importance of Upskilling
“We’re hearing from employers that they’re not finding candidates with skills they want and need in the current labour market,” said Tricia Williams, director of research, evaluation and knowledge mobilization at the Future Skills Centre, a skills innovation and policy think tank launched by Blueprint, Toronto Metropolitan University and The Conference Board of Canada. “For instance, we have known at least for the last decade or so that we have shortages on skilled trades, but it’s now starting to hit some critical pressure points, especially with the need for housing and infrastructure.”
In 2022, a report by the Future Skills Centre and the Conference Board of Canada estimated that over the next decade nine out of 10 jobs in Canada will require digital skills. This requires a workforce proficient in digital tools and capable of complex problem-solving. Employers need to prioritize training to bridge these gaps and stay competitive.
The Role of Reboot Plus
Reboot Plus is designed to address these pressing issues. Here’s how it can help:
- Comprehensive Self-Reflection: Reboot Plus offers youth a chance to renew their sense of possibility and then helps them map out the path to achieve it. By providing hope, we encourage them to contribute fully to their potential.
- Meeting Youth Where They’re at: Participants can move through the program in a way that works best for them. We balance not asking too much while encouraging program completion. This includes working with them outside of classroom hours to cover missed materials or continuing to welcome them back if they’ve been absent.
- Flexible Learning Options: With a mix of online and in-person training, Reboot Plus provides flexibility to accommodate various learning styles and schedules. This approach helps students integrate learning into their routines effectively, rebuilding routine and structure in their lives.
- Enhanced Understanding of Career Pathways: Each Reboot Plus participant meets with four to seven professionals in fields of interest. These youth-led information interviews allow professionals to share their career experiences, insights into the current labor market, and the skills, education, and experience required.
- Support for Businesses: Reboot Plus helps companies navigate this upcoming generation of workers. Professionals who meet with youth from the program learn the importance of not generalizing about workforce generations. Employers gain insight into trends like flexible working hours, remote work, and mental health needs, which are crucial for understanding the needs of prospective employees.
A lack of investment in training not only affects individual companies but also has broader economic implications. With positions taking longer to fill and a noticeable gap in private capital investments, the need for alternative upskilling initiatives is clear.
Incorporating an alternative education program like Reboot Plus can help bridge the skills gap, ensuring that the Canadian workforce is well-equipped to meet current and future demands. Preparing for the future requires ongoing investment in skills development.
To stay competitive and address the skills shortage effectively, employers must act now. Reboot Plus offers the tools and resources necessary to build a capable, adaptable workforce ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.
With funding from the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre, we are examining whether a hope-centred education and career development program can help youth find their purpose. Students in our program are vulnerable youth aged 17 to 24 who have not finished high school and do not have a plan for their future. Our 16-week program helps participants identify their values, personality, interests and skills, meet with professionals and develop an education and career action plan.
Le projet Reboot Plus est financé par le Centre des Compétences futures du gouvernement du Canada