The Model of Occupations, Skills and Technology (MOST)

How we answer questions about the future of work.

To help prepare Canadians for the future of work, our researchers and data scientists proudly developed the MOST on behalf of the Future Skills Centre. A sophisticated and data-rich projection tool, the MOST is designed to offer unique insights into the skills that will power Canada’s future labour markets.

The Database Behind the MOST

The MOST includes:

500

Occupational Coverage

Forecasts for 500 occupational groups.*

*As defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

700

Industry Inclusion

Employment estimates for nearly 700 different industries.*

*As defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

Skill Requirements

Occupations in the MOST can be described using 35 skills categories.*

As defined by the OECD’s O*Net skills database.

Regional Coverage

All provinces and territories are included in the MOST.

The MOST generates detailed occupational and industry-level projections for every region in Canada and connects the findings with specific skills.

Latest Research

Addressing Skill Imbalances in Canada

Canadian Economics December 2, 2024

Skill imbalances are evident in Canada. The C.D. Howe Institute estimates that, in 2019, 13.0 per cent of Canadians were employed in jobs that did not match their skills, compared to an OECD average of 10.0 per cent. Skills shortages were especially acute during the post-pandemic recovery. A Statistics Canada survey from 2022 revealed that over half of employers were grappling with skills gaps and more than two-thirds were struggling to find candidates with the necessary skills.

Data briefing • 16-min read

The Labour Market of Tomorrow

Canadian Economics October 11, 2022

Here we use MOST to provide insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional labour demand in Canada since March 2020 and will cast a shadow that extends out to 2030. We assess which job types and skills are most likely to see rising demand over this decade. We also assess how automation could potentially impact the demand for different roles and skills.

Data briefing • 15-min read

How We Use the MOST to Inform the Workforce of Tomorrow

Gap Analysis

Which skills or roles might see the largest shortages or surpluses?

Policy Modelling

How will more immigration impact the workforce? What are the effects of changing post-secondary program availability?

Skills Assessment

Which skills are in highest demand now? How will technology impact the demand for skills?

Demographic Analysis

Where will retirement rates be highest? What jobs are young people most likely to take coming out of school?

Scenario Creation

How will tech trends like AI, robotics, or autonomous vehicles impact demand for various roles?

Trend Analysis

How long will it take for industries to recover from the pandemic? Which roles will see the largest increase in demand?

The MOST in Action

The MOST tool informed a recent Conference Board study that provides insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional labour demand in Canada. Some of the study’s main findings:

The strongest job gains in the next 10 years are expected to be in the IT, computer engineering, architecture, finance, veterinary services, and transportation fields.
In-demand skills will include complex problem-solving, systems evaluation, systems analysis, writing, and programming.
While some occupations may benefit from automation, others could see job losses of close to 8 per cent by 2030.
Pandemic-related changes will impact the Canadian labour market beyond 2030.

Access Research