Mobilizing Higher Education & Workforce Development for the Rapid Re-Employment of Canadians
The COVID-19 crisis has derailed the careers of millions of Canadians. To support them, workforce leaders, and policy and decision makers need to mobilize education and training systems in some key ways – starting with robust labour market information and laying the foundation for a national system of lifelong learning.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a cataclysm in the labour market, but also opens a policy and funding window to develop new solutions and bring the higher education and workforce-development systems together. Rapid advances in technology, labour market analysis, research and policy-making offer further promise.
The Public Policy Forum have developed four pillars to increase the rapid re-employment of Canadians:
- Develop labour market intelligence to support demand-driven rapid re-employment interventions
- Invest in and spur the creation of rapid response programs for re-employment
- Increase financial support to working-age learners to ensure access to employment and training
- Increase support for employment and career development services geared to workers experiencing pre-existing and pandemic-related barriers