Averting a skills shortage in Ontario
Averting a skills shortage in Ontario
By Maxim Jean-Louis
President & Chief Executive Officer
Contact North
Full employment has been an ambition of successive governments since the beginning of the industrial revolution. With Canadian unemployment now at the lowest rate in over thirty years, you would think it would be “smiles all round”. But many see our low unemployment as an indicator of a major problem.
The problem is simple. Canada does not have enough people to meet the demands of a growing, fast changing economy in a sustainable way. The Ontario Workforce Shortage Coalition has just released a study entitled The Challenge Ahead, Averting a Skills Crisis in Ontario, predicting that, by 2020, Ontario will have a shortage of some 190,000 workers rising to over 350,000 by 2025 and to over 500,000 by 2030. Alberta and British Columbia are already experiencing a severe shortage of labour.
Why will we have this problem? There are three reasons. The first is that the Canadian birth rate is low – too low to replace the population retiring from the workforce. The second is that many of the baby boomers are beginning to retire. While it is true that many are staying in the workforce past retirement age, they are nonetheless beginning to leave their jobs. Finally, we are unable to attract and retain sufficient numbers of immigrants to Canada with the required skills to meet predicted gaps in the supply of labour.
All of this is complicated by another factor: the changing nature of the workplace. In the U.S., one in four employees has been with their current employer for less than a year. A full fifty percent of employees have been with their current employer for less than five years. The pattern is similar in Canada. Several analysts expect that the average North American worker will have held some ten to fourteen jobs by the time they are in their late thirties and over twenty five over their working life.
Since Canada is not the only country facing such challenges – almost the entire developed world is challenged by these demographics – we face a global war for skilled and highly qualified people.
There are five things we need to do. First, we need to recognize that several groups are under represented in the workforce. Aboriginal people occupy fewer high paid professional and skilled positions than their presence in our workforce would suggest they are capable of. Stronger, focused educational and support programs are needed to increase their participation rate in better paying jobs in Ontario. Similar issues are faced by older women seeking to re-enter the workforce, those with disabilities and those who have reached retirement but would like to continue working, but in a different occupation or trade.
Second, we need to strengthen our focus on immigration – using our offshore educational activities and distance education to provide education and skills development to those living in other countries who are considering coming to Canada. By this means, new immigrants can arrive with Canadian credentials and fast track into the workforce.
Third, we need to provide lifelong and continuous access to learning so that individuals and groups can quickly upgrade their skills, master new knowledge and help to ensure that their organizations are always at the leading edge of best practices so that they remain competitive and effective.
Fourthly, we need to see productivity as another part of the solution. Canadians are less productive than their American counterparts – U.S. workers are seen to be significantly more productive (by around 25% according to the International Labour Organization).
Finally, we need to continue to engage in a focused dialogue about this challenge. Studies such as the recent one on The Ontario Workforce Shortage Coalition undertaken by a partnership of provincial and national organizations such as Colleges Ontario, Skills Canada Ontario, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Mining Association provide a springboard for such forward thinking discussions.
One theme runs through all of the suggested responses – education. It is critical that we invest in lifelong learning, work based learning and work to quickly recognize foreign credentials. Our colleges, universities, worker education and training and professional bodies are front line troops in the war for talent. The Ontario Workforce Shortage Coalition gives strong emphasis to education as a key part of the “solution” we need to act on.
Why does this matter? Our standard of living and quality of life depend on Canada and Ontario’s maintaining economic growth and being competitive.
Math Corner
Attention Grade 4 & 5 math students!
Dear students and teachers:
The Set 4 of Math Corner questions are presented below. I would like to mention that on May 2008 the First Nations University of Canada will organize the Mathematics Contest for Grade 4 and 5 students of First Nations community schools. The questions of the contests will be similar to the questions we present in the Math Corner. The participants, winners, and their teachers will receive valuable awards from our sponsors. Please contact with Dr. Arzu Sardarli if you plan to participate in the competition.
Yours, Elder Wiseman
Set 4
Question 1:
1 + 3 + 5 + ? = 2 + 4 + 6
(A) 3 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) 7
Question 2:
2 + 10 = 2 x ?
(A) 10 (B) 1 (C) 6 (D) 4
Question 3:
Of the following sums which one is NOT equal to 10 + 10 + 10
(A) 10 + 8 + 12 (B) 9 + 16 + 5
(C) 6 + 14 + 10 (D) 20 + 10 + 5
Question 4:
If today is Wednesday, what day was it
28 days ago?
(A) Monday (B) Tuesday
(C) Wednesday (D) Thursday
Question 5:
The lengths of three sides of a rectangle are 6, 12, and 6. What is the length of the fourth side of this rectangle?
(A) 3 (B) 6 (C) 10 (D) 12
Answers for Set 3
1. D 2. A 3. B 4. D 5. C
(Questions and answers for previously published Math Corners can be viewed at www.nativejournal.ca) View Education Sections from September 2007 and forward.
Please mail, fax or email your solutions and comments to
Dr. Arzu Sardarli, Phone: (306) 790 - 5950 ext. 3338; Fax: (306) 790 - 5993
Email: asardarli@firstnationsuniversity.ca
Mail: First Nations University of Canada
1 First Nations Way, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 7K2, Canada
By Anett Chicomny
On October 5, of 2007, I had the pleasure of attending the Canadian Aboriginal Science and Technology Society (CASTS) Education Conference. The conference was held in Calgary, and was cosponsored by Treaty 7 First Nations Education Association (TSFNEA). While there, I learned of the First Nations University of Canada Math Contest. I am in my sixth year teaching grades 7 through 12, mathematics at Siksika Nation High School, on the Siksika Reserve in Alberta. My interest in the competition did not go unnoticed by Dr. Sardarli, who presented that day. He asked for my help to promote interest in mathematics and science through the Math Contest in Alberta. As I had noticed that math contests at the senior high level usually go unattended, I agreed.
There are many benefits to be gained from participating in this Math Contest. Early introduction of math contests will alleviate fears related to writing one, and with monthly practice the students’ performance will improve on the provincial standardized tests. The teacher will also receive valuable feedback pertaining to each student’s abilities in problem solving, as well as their breadth of knowledge.
Through the Math Contest process, interest in mathematics at the Reserve schools would be generated and hopefully result in a substantive increase of our First Nations and Aboriginal students’ participation in technical, trade and university level studies of science, commerce or related fields. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email at anettc@siksikaeducation.com or at 403-734-4500 should you have any questions or if I can be of assistance in any way.
Feds fund essential skills project to help Aboriginal Canadians participate more fully in the work force
Mr. James Moore, Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Westport-Port Coquitlam, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, announced December 20th funding for the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society to help Aboriginal people obtain the skills that they need to find and keep good jobs.
"The Government of Canada is taking action to create the best-educated, most skilled and most flexible work force in the world," said MP Moore. "This project will help us make sure that Aboriginal Canadians have the literacy and essential skills that they need to participate fully in the work force."
Through this project, entitled Essential Skills for Aboriginal Futures, the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society will work with the Métis Nation British Columbia as well as with employers to give 105 Aboriginal people the opportunity to learn the essential skills needed for specific jobs. The ultimate goal of the project is to help the participants enter into the work force, to give them job security and to help them build better lives. The project will also increase awareness, understanding and uptake of the program with employers. Encouraging more businesses to use essential skills tools and material in their workplace will help workers upgrade their skills and increase productivity.
Higher literacy and essential skills levels have a positive impact on self-esteem, health and safety. They are important factors in helping Canadians find and keep good jobs. The opportunity to use and upgrade essential skills on the job helps people long after they have completed their formal education.
Literacy and essential skills programs and activities across Canada are supported by the federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as by a variety of businesses and voluntary organizations. The Government of Canada welcomes the opportunity to work with partner organizations across the country to help Canadians improve their literacy skills and build better lives.