Due to the rapid evolution of the Canadian economy caused by technological, demographic, environmental, and geopolitical changes, the nature of work will unavoidably change, bringing about new opportunities and challenges. It is essential to be prepared for such changes in order to compete in a market that requires a skilled labor force to meet its demands.
The Future Skills Centre is committed to preparing Canadians for the future of work by fostering a network of innovative partners in skills development and assisting Canadians in acquiring the skills necessary to thrive in a changing labour market. FSC was created to address those opportunities and threats by creating a more responsive skills development ecosystem, producing a more agile and adaptable workforce in Canada.
They collaborate with their partners to inform and support local approaches to skills development and employment training and assist Canadians in adapting to a changing economy. As a pan-Canadian initiative that connects ideas and innovations generated across the country to ensure the success of local, regional, and national economies, FSC aims for effective skills development that is inclusive and supportive of all underserved groups, such as women, youth, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, racialized peoples, LGBTQ2S+ peoples, persons with disabilities, veterans, and Canadians living in rural, remote, and northern communities.
To achieve its goal of creating a future in which everyone has access to high-quality career advice and learning opportunities for life, FSC has developed a Strategic Plan outlining its approach to strengthening the ecosystem for skills development in Canada.
As Canada enters a period of economic recovery following the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FSC Strategic Plan is geared toward addressing the challenges and opportunities for skills development and enhancing their understanding of the key drivers for innovation. These key drivers include the growing influence of new technologies in the workplace, addressing systemic barriers underserved populations face, mitigating unequal access to training opportunities based on income, location, and job type, and engaging more employers as core partners in training solutions.
FSC owns a Community of Practice, a virtual space that brings together practitioners in the skills-training ecosystem, such as researchers, employment and training service providers, and anyone interested in skills development, in order to create an integrated pan-Canadian network of diverse partners and stakeholders across the skills development and training ecosystem.
As a company that adheres to the principles of agility, collaboration, inclusion, excellence, and impact, Future Skills Center has 190+ skills development projects in every province and territory, spanning 20 economic sectors, with more than 25,000 Canadians receiving hands-on skills training, of which 79% serve underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
Future Skills Center focuses on three areas requiring immediate attention:
- Research Insights
Future Skills Center aspires to be a thought leader in emerging debates about future skills, trends, and innovative approaches by researching to help current and future job-seekers, employers, policymakers, service providers, educators, and researchers better understand future skills priorities, knowledge gaps, and leading practices, thereby creating an ecosystem that will prepare for an uncertain future.
- Innovative Skill Approach
FCS’s innovation projects identify emerging and in-demand skills and test new training delivery methods to inform governments, the private sector, labour, educational training institutions, non-profit organizations, and academics about adopting novel training and skill development approaches.
This includes assisting Canadians in determining their career paths and ensuring that they have the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from shared prosperity through an inclusive approach that focuses on addressing systemic barriers that underserved groups, such as women, youth, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, racialized people, LGBTQ2S+ people, persons with disabilities, veterans, and Canadians living in rural, remote, and northern areas face and engaging them in skill development.
- Engage With Partners
Engagement with the community, including employers, workers, policymakers, local organizations, and other stakeholders, is essential to fostering a network of innovative partnerships in skills development. FCS provides resources to keep the community updated on the most recent developments in skills development by collaborating with partners from coast to coast to coast and bringing together leading voices and insights to inform and support new approaches to skills development and training.
Future Skills Center is committed to an inclusive approach to skill development that prioritizes engaging and assisting underserved groups because they believe that national strength is achieved when everyone has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the shared prosperity. They offer skill development programs for Indigenous populations, mid-career workers, newcomers, people with disabilities, racialized individuals, rural, remote, and northern communities, women in the workforce, and youth.
FCS is constantly gathering and sharing research insights about the labour markets of today and tomorrow with the intention of constructing a future-focused skills innovation hub in Canada to prepare workers and employers to adapt to ongoing labour market changes. Their research encompasses, to name a few, agriculture, artificial intelligence, career guidance, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, pandemic issues, and sustainability.
Future Skill Center works with a strong commitment to preparing Canadians for the future of work by fostering networks of innovative partners in skills development. To know more about their partners, research, innovations, and skill development programs, visit the website https://fsc-ccf.ca/ for more information.
The work culture as we know it is undergoing rapid change, and keeping up with these changes requires skill and knowledge. To learn more about these changes and developments, visit our website at https://indigenous-sme.ca/ and follow us on Twitter at @IndigenousSme for the most recent updates.
