This report-back reveals the most persistent skills, training, and education issues we heard from participants during the 2019–20 National Regional Sounding Tour. Issues are grouped into five major categories.
National Regional Sounding Tour: Report-back—December 2020
National Regional Sounding Tour: Report-back—December 2020
Indigenous Communities
People and Culture
Skills and Workforce Development
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- Barriers to access—Rural and remote learners face challenges around distance, transportation, housing, Internet and/or computer access, and the availability/affordability of child care. And recognizing prior experiences of newcomers to Canada, eliminating barriers for people with disabilities, supporting mid-career workers, and addressing systemic challenges such as the urban/rural divide are all vital.
- Lifelong learning—The nature of work is changing. Skill sets have shorter shelf lives. Workers need a lifelong-learning mindset to sustain their careers and adapt.
- Experiential learning—Employers often face financial and administrative challenges to offering work-integrated learning and training, especially around the costs of taking on trainees.
- Reconciliation in education—Many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit learners view training and education opportunities with skepticism. This is the legacy of colonization and residential schools. Reconciliation is a needed and ongoing process.
- Foundational skills—When asked which skills are most in demand, stakeholders frequently highlighted social and emotional skills.
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