Back to the Basics: Is This Really an Issue?

Changes in the workplace today:

  • technology
  • equipment retooling
  • new processes
  • new quality standards
  • staff growth and/or downsizing
  • more reading requirements
  • higher skill demands at entry level
  • greater responsibility
  • more diversity

Relevant job skills are constantly changing. An Ekos research study revealed that:

  • 50% of the Canadian labour force believe their job skills will be obsolete in 5-10 years
  • 59% believe their current education and skills limit their ability to get another job
  • 88% of the labour force see upgrading knowledge and skills as key to economic security

(Ekos Research Associates, Lifelong Learning and the World of Work, 1995)

So, the ability to develop and maintain an adaptable and appropriately trained (or retrained) workforce – is critical. Increasingly, the question employers are asking themselves is: “Do our employees possess the skills necessary to implement change and to operate our businesses effectively into the next century?” The answer, or so it seems in many cases, is no. And this is why it is so important that college and employment preparation programs address essential skills and strive to ensure all prospective workers have the foundation they need to succeed in jobs that are constantly changing.

Consider the results of the 1998-2000 Management Issues Survey by the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association:

  • 19% of the more than 500 manufacturers surveyed identified the availability of skilled labour as a factor expected to contribute to deteriorating market conditions (The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association (CME), 1998-2000 Management Issues Survey)
  • 40% of the manufacturers surveyed identify “lack of qualified personnel” as one of the chief impediments to making measurable improvements in their business performance (CME 1998-2000 Management Issues Survey)

And manufacturing is just one example. Similar expressions of concern can be found throughout various industry and sectoral reports. “A critical shortage of skilled workers in Canada could grow to one million by 2020 unless the country changes its approach to education and training.” (Jane Stewart, Honourable Minister of Human Resources)

The aging workforce is expected to create a serious labour shortage 10-15 years from now. Already, the number of workers in the 25-40 age range is shrinking. According to Stewart: “We know there are skills shortages in the trades. And we know there is a significant shortfall of people to staff skilled positions in small and medium-sized businesses.” The Canadian Federation of Independent Business estimates that there are 300,000 unfilled skilled jobs in businesses of that size range. According to Ken Georgetti from the Canadian Labour Congress, the country does not currently have enough tradespeople in many areas and the average age of fully qualified tradespeople is now 50.