A significant majority of respondents across all categories believe that the way we deliver education and training needs to change. Increasing funding and awareness were also seen as effective strategies.

Supplemental Business/Labour Survey

“What do you feel are the challenges around ensuring that the workforce has basic skills to be able to engage in workforce training, to be employable, to be transferable?”

Employers and union representatives related challenges with the basic skills of the workforce back to the way training and education is delivered – or, to a lesser extent, to the education system as a whole. Interestingly, employers were significantly more likely to consider individual motivation as part of the problem. Union representatives did not cite this as a concern – and were far more likely to be concerned with the way training and education is delivered.

Supplemental Business/Labour Survey

“What do you think the most effective solutions to deal with these challenges might be?”

Understandably, given their answers to the previous question, union representatives were more likely to call for changes to the way training and education are delivered while employers express a need for broader improvements to the education system as a whole. Specific suggestions referred to such things as: accessibility, flexibility, non-threatening learning environments, ongoing training, paid time off, collaboration, and learner-centered approaches.

Funding issues – free programming, tax incentives for business, individual reimbursements and subsidization – were also mentioned.

The Myth of the Grade 12 Hiring Bar…

“We need to make whatever improvements it takes to be sure that kids coming out at the Grade 12 level are equipped with the basics.” – Employer in the Supplemental Business/ Labour Telephone Survey