Now is the time to upgrade and learn new skills

The skills needed for the modern workforce have changed and now is the time to adapt.
The mismatch of the skills people have and what employers need is nothing new. It has been a growing issue for a while. Chambers of commerce across the province have been 
advocating for this to be 
addressed for years.
We’re now at the point where we can’t put this off much longer. COVID-19 has changed the workplace at a rapid pace. Millions of workers have suffered job loss and unemployment 
numbers continue to 
fluctuate. Yet according to a study by the Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, one fifth of Canadian businesses expect to face labour shortage issues in the next three months. This rises to nearly a third for businesses with more than 20 employees. Nine percent of businesses across Canada stated that over the next year they plan to hire staff with skills or knowledge that their current employees lack. 
The impact of COVID-19 on the labour market is still evolving, but both the federal and provincial governments have rolled out programs aimed at helping people re-skill.
The Government of Canada is planning to invest $30 billion in workforce support over the next five years. They’re 
investing in labour force research, development of training programs, 
recruitment and retention programs for businesses.
Look for new 
government-subsidized skills development and training programs to roll out in the near future. The government is also looking for businesses and organizations that have high potential for growth to invest in for further training 
and work placement programs.
The federal government plans to roll out a new Canada Recovery Hiring Program for eligible employers. The program will offset a portion of extra costs for employers 
as they increase wages, hours, or hire more staff as part of their reopening.
Micro-credentials
The Province is working closely with post-secondary institutions, employers, and industry to develop rapid training programs to help people retrain and upgrade their skills.
Micro-credentials are rapid training programs offered by colleges, universities and 
Indigenous Institutes across the province that can help people get the skills that employers need. They help people retrain and upgrade their skills to find new 
employment.
Micro-credential 
programs:
• take less time to complete than degrees or diplomas
• may be completed online and may include on-the-job training
• many are created with 
input from business sectors, so the skills being taught match employer needs
The Ontario Government is looking to invest in 
post-secondary institutions that propose ways to use 
training and education to drive economic recovery, increase job growth, and enhance community 
partnerships. This builds on the province’s existing 
micro-credential strategy.
Invest now
This is the time to invest in training and skills 
development. For anyone who has been thinking about upgrading their skills or learning new ones, this is the time to do it. There are a host of new programs rolling out offering new skills and certifications. There are also new programs to subsidize both some of the costs of getting trained as well as the costs of hiring.
If you are an employer 
struggling to find people with certain skills, now is the time to reach out to our local 
post-secondary institutions and work together to help create the programs your workforce needs.
The programs that are rolling out are too good to pass up. There are new opportunities to invest in ourselves and our employees that will help us all grow and thrive.
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