Crises often act as catalysts for innovation and permanent change. Throughout the course of the pandemic, Canadian businesses have had to adopt new strategies in adherence to evolving lockdown and safety protocols.

While some of these adaptations will prove to be short-term, many more are likely representative of a permanent shift to a ‘new normal’ for business. Underpinning this shift is the need for a workforce with the skills necessary to successfully drive change forward.

Join us as we discuss some of the key trends in business adaptations over the course of the pandemic as evidenced by the results of the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions.

Specifically, we will examine where and to what extent Canadian businesses have embraced remote work, online sales, and automation during the pandemic and what these changes have meant for skills demands and the challenges businesses currently face finding, recruiting and training talent.

Trevin Stratton, Chief Economist & SVP Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Rhonda Fernandes, Acting Director General, Youth and Skills Innovation Directorate, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Creig Lamb, Senior Policy Analyst, Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship

The Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship
is an independent, non-partisan, multidisciplinary team housed at Ryerson University. Our mission is to help Canada navigate the complex forces and astounding possibilities of the innovation economy. We envision a future that is prosperous, resilient and equitable, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Through creative partnerships with organizations such as TPL Innovation and cutting edge research, we work to transform ideas into real-world solutions that make life in Canada better for all.

Please visit brookfieldinstitute.ca to learn more about how our team tests assumptions with credible research to ensure Canadian governments and businesses are focusing on the most relevant issues
and opportunities for Canada.

Crisis and Opportunity: Tech Adoption and Future Skills Demand