Minister Kenney: addressing the skills mismatch key to strengthening Canada's economy

TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Today at a conference hosted by Hamilton-based think tank Cardus, the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, highlighted the need to fix the skills mismatch in Canada to ensure Canadians can benefit from economic growth.

In the coming years, hundreds of resource projects are planned that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs from coast to coast to coast. In addition to the direct jobs created by these projects, investments in infrastructure and machinery represent even more opportunities for Canadians.

In his speech, Minister Kenney outlined the steps required to ensure that Canadians have the skills they need to fill these jobs and ensure Canada can take full advantage of this opportunity. More employer-led training through the Canada Job Grant, more employer investment in training and increased wages, reforms to Canada's apprenticeship systems, encouraging more Canadians to enter the skilled trades, better recognition of foreign credentials, improved labour mobility and better labour market information were some of the solutions identified by Minister Kenney.

Quick facts

• The Association of Canadian Community Colleges says that over the next 10 years Canada's labour market will need approximately 1.5 million new workers to keep up with demand.
• Experts in the construction sector say they will need 319 000 new workers before 2020, while the mining industry will need 145 000 more workers in the next decade.
• The Conference Board of Canada says Ontario alone is losing out on $24.3 billion in economic activity because employers can't find people with the skills they need.

Quote

"Our government is working to fix the paradox of too many people without jobs in an economy of too many jobs without people by helping Canadians get the training they need. Only by addressing this skills mismatch will we be able to ensure that Canadians can fully benefit from the tremendous opportunities before us."

- Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism

Associated Links

Economic Action Plan 2013 introduced various measures to support the labour market. http://actionplan.gc.ca
Apprenticeship Grants
Canada Job Grant
Labour Mobility

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada