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Future Skills Centre

Canadians need to prepare for a changing labour market. The Future Skills Centre—Centre des Compétences futures (FSC–CCF) will help them transition and adapt to new jobs. Funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program, the Future Skills Centre is a partnership between Blueprint, Toronto Metropolitan University, and The Conference Board of Canada.

As part of our commitment to the Future Skills Centre, the Conference Board will research future skills needs, lead knowledge mobilization and convening activities, and facilitate the exchange of ideas by developing a pan-Canadian stakeholder network.

Latest Research

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Valuing Skills in Canada: A Statistical Approach

Education & Skills    May 23, 2023

A key ingredient for a successful and financially rewarding career is having useful and valuable skills that enable people to perform specific jobs. Accordingly, we expect workers with in-demand skills to earn higher wages and salaries, reflecting the need for those skills in the workplace.

Impact paper  •  33-min read

an Inuit man is ice fishing

The Role of the Hunter in Inuit Nunangat’s Mixed Economy

Indigenous & Northern Communities   April 17, 2023

Hunters play an important role in the mixed economy of Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland across the Arctic expanse in Canada. Hunting and harvesting skills are critically linked to food security, physical and mental well-being, and sustainable livelihoods in the North.

Issue briefing  •  13-min read

Man at desk on his computer.

Digital Occupation Pathways: From Vulnerable Jobs to Rapid-Growth Careers

Education & Skills    March 29, 2023

Advances in digital and automation technologies are fundamentally changing how goods and services are produced and delivered and will have huge implications for the labour market. While investment in technology and the resulting productivity gains are a desired outcome for the economy, it creates uncertainty for workers whose skills become obsolete in this process.

Impact paper  •  65-min read

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Listening to You

We recently heard from Canadians across the country on how the Future Skills Centre can best meet your region’s priorities.

The Conference Board of Canada organized the Regional Sounding Tour and the Virtual Regional Sounding Tour as part of the Future Skills Centre’s strategic roundtable events. By listening to Canadians in the skills and training community, we gained valuable insights into the skills that will be needed tomorrow.

Find out more about the top issues facing Canadians.

Virtual Regional Sounding Tour

For details about our 2019 Regional Sounding Tour.

Regional Sounding Tour
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    The Honourable Patty Hajdu

    Former Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

    The world of work is changing and Canadians need to be equipped to seize the opportunities this presents. Future Skills is part of the Government’s plan to build an agile workforce that can find and keep good, well-paying jobs, and strengthen the middle class so that everyone has a fair chance at success—today and tomorrow.

    Mohamed Lachemi

    President and Vice-chancellor, Toronto Metropolitan University

    As Canada’s leader in innovative, career-oriented education, Toronto Metropolitan University is proud to lead the consortium for this important federal government initiative. With expertise in multidisciplinary, large-scale research and evaluation projects, TMU is a community builder that convenes academics, governments, non-profits, and industry to better understand and promote diversity, entrepreneurship, and employment. TMU is well-positioned to help prepare all Canadians for emerging opportunities today and beyond.

    Susan Black

    Chief Executive Officer, The Conference Board of Canada

    The Conference Board of Canada is pleased to be at the centre of this exciting and important federal initiative for workforce development and the future of work. We will be undertaking new research and convening initiatives with a keen focus on offering innovative ideas on what we can do as a Country to keep pace with new technologies and the rapidly changing nature of work.

    Karen Myers

    President and CEO, Blueprint

    Blueprint is delighted to be a partner in this ground-breaking initiative. Our expertise in skills development and extensive experience executing complex research and evaluation projects will allow us to confidently lead the FSC/CCF evidence generation strategy. Working together, we will build a culture of evidence-informed decision-making that will strengthen our skills development ecosystem and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities across Canada.

    Michael Burt

    Vice President, The Conference Board of Canada

    Our work with FSC has led to significant breakthroughs in our understanding of key questions. This includes identifying who faces the most automation risks and how we can help them transition into new roles, identifying and quantifying key skills gaps, and highlighting the potential of blended market and land-based economies in Canada’s far north.

In Partnership With

Toronto Metropolitan University
The Conference Board of Canada
Blueprint
Government of Canada