There’s no doubt about it, Canada’s population is aging. According to Statistics Canada, the senior population is the fastest-growing age group in the country, and there will soon be more Canadians leaving the workforce than entering it over the next few decades.
And if that’s not bad enough, there’s an existing skills shortage that will become even worse unless companies invest in training.
Over the next decade, at least half of the Canadian jobs will require a new mix of skills. With rapidly evolving technological advancements, workers can no longer just sit on the sidelines.
But it’s not just technical skills that will be required by employers. Soft skills such as problem-solving and communication, alongside foundational skills like numeracy and digital, will be critical in a modern workplace. These skills (in addition to reading, writing, collaboration, adaptability, and creativity and innovation) are known as the Skills for Success. Identified by the Government of Canada, these nine skills are the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to change.
With employers finding it difficult to recruit candidates with the necessary skills for the current labour market, training workers on the job can be one way around this. And while it’s an investment, it’s often worthwhile:
- Investments in employee skills training can translate into substantial gains in workers’ skills and job performance, meaning that it’s in an employer’s best interest to invest in their workers’ skills.
- Enhanced skills help employees work more accurately and efficiently, leading to better work quality, service and productivity gains. Having the skills to understand complex communication helps employees better understand instructions, warning labels, and procedures. This creates fewer errors, accidents and waste – ultimately producing cost savings for the company.
- Skilled employees are also more likely to feel more fulfilled at work, which leads to better job retention rates – and an improved company reputation as a great place to work.
Yet despite all these advantages, Canadian employers invest significantly less in training than their international peers, and the training that they do offer is mostly around health and safety, onboarding or orientation.
According to the Future Skills Centre, on average, Canadian employers spend $240 per employee annually on training. To compare, OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries spend $750 per employee annually, and in the U.S. it’s even higher.
It’s safe to say that if employers don’t step up to help train its workforce, Canada will be left behind.
Skills for Success Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of the key skills needed to succeed at learning, work, and life. Visit skillsforsuccessday.ca for free resources and more information on how to get involved.
