Industry urges governments to invest in colleges and institutes

Driven by industry association leaders, the Employers' Coalition for Advanced Skills is concerned with the capacity of colleges and institutes to provide graduates with the advanced skills that employers need as they face the mounting challenges of demographic attrition and the need to enhance productivity.

The Coalition also advocates support for college and institute applied research to enable small- and medium-sized enterprises to improve and develop products, processes and services.

Colleges and institutes of technology are the labour market trainers of choice, key to adult retraining and re-skilling, immigrant credentialing and integration, and the access of all groups to post-secondary education. The vast majority of college graduates find work in their chosen field within six months. The fastest growing category of college applicants is university graduates who have not found work or want to pursue a practical academic program that will lead to a career.

Canada’s colleges and institutes are under intense pressure to produce more graduates, but they lack the resources.

October 20, 2009

Business News Network (BNN) Market Morning Interview

Economic recovery is in the mail, but the government needs to invest in Canadian skilled workers at the college level now or face a looming labour crisis. BNN talks to Paul Charette, chairman, Bird Construction Company, and chair, Employers Coalition for Advanced Skills.  Watch Video on watch.bnn.ca

August 14, 2009

Employers' Coalition for Advanced Skills
Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance Pre-Budget Consultations 2009

September 23, 2008

Communiqué: National Coalition Sounds Skills Warning: Coalition of leading business, education, health, and labour representatives wants issue debated in federal election

National Coalition Letter to Party Leaders on Canada's Skills Shortage