Training Canadian Workers for Technological Skills

More jobs than ever require some level of digital skill. In fact, the new Skills for Success (external link, opens in new window)  framework emphasizes that digital literacy is as critical as numeracy and communication skills in today’s environment. But a disconnect stands between the skills of many post-secondary graduates and workers in the job market, and the technical skills employers actually require. 

Brian Robson, Director of Training Programs & Business Development at the Diversity Institute (DI), recently joined the Future Skills Summit (external link, opens in new window)  to discuss the ADaPT: Digital Competencies (external link, opens in new window)  project. Presented by the Future Skills Centre (external link, opens in new window)  (FSC) and the Conference Board of Canada (external link, opens in new window) , the Summit brought together experts, training providers and leaders from the skills and training ecosystem to share their learnings and highlight what is already making an impact in the labour market.

Robson spoke alongside Jennefer Griffith, Executive Director at Food Processing Skills Canada Ontario (external link, opens in new window) , on a panel moderated by Lawrence Daniels, Chief Executive Officer of FireSpirit Inc (external link, opens in new window) .

There is a lot of focus on the need for graduates in engineering and computer science, but research on the needs of business shows that the needs for digital talent are far more diverse. Increasingly, innovative approaches to training can provide graduates from across disciplines with the skills and experience they need to transition into well paid digital roles.

ADaPT (Advanced Digital and Professional Training) (opens in new window)  is a work-integrated learning and microcredential program that uses a unique employer-driven approach that follows the Skills for Success (external link, opens in new window)  framework to create new pathways into digital roles for non-STEM graduates, internationally-educated professionals, and high-potential workers who lack traditional credentials. It has produced strong results for women, racialized and Indigenous university graduates, often in arts of social sciences and since 2014 has trained more than 1,000 university students and graduates, placing over 90% of them in employment. With new funding from FSC, ADaPT: Digital Competencies (external link, opens in new window)  expands this proven training model across Canadian communities to widen career pathways and address training and employment challenges faced by newcomers and individuals facing mid-career changes.

“We are really trying to solve the problem of ‘jobs without people, and people without jobs,’” Robson explained.

ADaPT participants work through instructor-led sessions and online, self-guided modules on topics such as advanced xls, sales development, user experience, business writing, search engine optimization and design thinking. More than 80 percent of participants have been from equity deserving groups—women, racialized, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities or LGBTQ2S+ people—groups that historically have been under-represented in tech roles. ADaPT also issues a micro-credential upon successful completion of the program issues through the BC Diploma platform, in partnership with eCampus Ontario.

Griffith shared how Food Processing Skills Canada is working to future-proof the food and beverage processing workforce (external link, opens in new window)  with funding from FSC. The food manufacturing sector is the largest manufacturing sector in Canada, employing over 300,000 individuals. At the same time, companies struggle to find the workers they need due to turnover, retirements, and growth within the sector. Skills Training Atlantic Canada (STAC) is working directly with employers to address skills gap challenges and advance workforce development in Atlantic Canada with training for new hires, seasonal workers, frontline workers, and supervisors.

“Partnership is the new leadership,” Griffith suggested.

Both Griffith and Robson noted that newcomers and immigrants face distinct challenges in the employment landscape. Many get stuck at the interview process, Griffith explained, and more coaching and support is needed at that step. There are also challenges in the recognition of international credentials that newcomers possess. ADaPT has worked to establish certifications through Ryerson University for newcomers that employers will more readily accept.

Hear more (external link, opens in new window)  from Brian, Jennefer, and Lawrence at the Future Skills Summit.

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