September 14, 2015 – Access to a powerful workforce is essential to creating stronger companies and building a more competitive Canada. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce calls on the parties to reveal their plans for building a highly skilled workforce that meets Canada’s current and future needs.
“The employment landscape is changing in Canada. The demand for high-skilled workers is growing while the need for low-skilled workers is declining. We need to make every effort to align education with our employment market. We all need to be on the same page if we want Canadians to have the skills to support a world-leading economy,” said the Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
To reinforce this message, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce recently launched a new report entitled Fragmented Systems: Connecting Players in Canada’s Skills Challenge. The report identifies the barriers that stand between employers and the education systems, highlights what is currently being done to address this situation and proposes recommendations to government to work with educators and employers. A system where employers’ skills needs are connected to post-secondary education and training will ensure Canada has a more competitive workforce with the skills to succeed.
“Surrounded by the state-of-the-art technology at NAIT’s facility, we realize the nature of the workplace is shifting. The best insurance any individual can have against changes in labour demand is skills, education and experience. The next federal government has a role to play in making sure the current and next generations of workers can make Canadian businesses the most competitive in the world. We are waiting to hear what they have to say,” concluded Mr. Beatty.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the vital connection between business and the federal government. It helps shape public policy and decision-making to the benefit of businesses, communities and families across Canada with a network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 200,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors of the economy and in all regions. News and information are available at Chamber.ca or follow us on Twitter @CdnChamberofCom.
