The need to nurture a skills economy
When leaders of the world’s seven most advanced economies meet on June 8 and 9 in Charlevoix, Que., the top-line agenda item will be preparing for the jobs of the future.
What exactly does this agenda item mean for the Canadian workers, students and employers?
The proliferation of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced robotics are changing the face of work. Some jobs will be fully automated. Others will require humans to work alongside emerging technologies, leveraging the best of what machines are good at – routine tasks and analytics – against what humans are best at – critical thinking and creativity.
The structure of the labour market is also shifting. Gone are the days of gold watch careers, where individuals stick to the same employer for 50-plus years. Today’s digitally-enabled economy allows jobs to be tasked-out across cities, provinces and countries and encourages temporary contracts that come largely without benefits.