Readiness and Resilience: Mapping the Contours of the Indigenous Skills and Employment Ecosystem in Canada

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Readiness and Resilience: Mapping the Contours of the Indigenous Skills and Employment Ecosystem in Canada

Published: July 13, 2022

Data mapping shows that training opportunities and services for Indigenous peoples in Canada are limited. However, in-depth interviews with Indigenous training providers and non-Indigenous businesses demonstrate the importance of skill development, training, and funding opportunities for Indigenous people to advance their careers, improve Indigenous labor-market and entrepreneurship outcomes, and further economic reconciliation in Canada. Indigenous people must be able to improve their skills through training, tools, networking, and mentoring to adjust to a changing, technologically driven job market in Canada’s economy.

Efforts need to be enhanced to provide Indigenous people equal opportunities to grow and prosper as valued employees, company owners, entrepreneurs, and industry and civic leaders. These enhanced efforts are critical to building a truly inclusive economy and making progress towards economic reconciliation. In partnership with the Diversity Institute and the Future Skills Centre, CCAB outlines the gaps, challenges, and strengths of the Indigenous employment and skills training landscape and suggests recommendations to achieve the blueprint developed by the National Indigenous Economic Strategy under the labour market category.