Attracting Talent

Despite being one of the most educated countries in the world, Canada is facing a growing skills mismatch. While unemployment remains fairly high, over a quarter of businesses report difficulty finding workers with the right skills — a challenge that is especially pronounced for small businesses, which employ the majority of Canadians.

This is compounded by barriers to workforce participation, rigid credentialing processes and limited alignment between training programs and the needs of today’s economy. The result is lost productivity and slower growth, among other impacts. In fact, Canada’s GDP would be $49 billion higher today if we had adequately invested in skills development over the past 20 years.

Immigration also plays a vital role in supporting economic growth. Our immigration strategy should be adaptive to labour demand and community infrastructure. Additionally, newcomers must be set up for success, including improving credential recognition, expanding access to training and language supports, and ensuring inclusive pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.

To fully unlock our labour force potential, we need coordinated action across government, business and education — not just short-term fixes, but long-term solutions that ensure every Canadian can contribute and succeed in a changing economy.

The Calgary Chamber continues to advocate for workforce strategies that build resilience, close skills gaps and support inclusive, sustainable growth.