Date(s) - 21 Oct 2021
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Over recent years there has been a widening recognition of disturbing long-term trends in our labour market, such as the growing spread of precarious work, the rise of the gig economy, the increase in working poverty and income inequality, and the threats posed by automation and artificial intelligence. The impact of these trends has been disproportionately felt by marginalized populations and those working in lower-skilled occupations, such as women, youth, racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples and immigrants.

With COVID-19 impacts projected to have lasting effects on the economy and provincial government plans to transform employment services in Ontario, it is essential that any plans to improve employment outcomes in Toronto consider more effective engagement with employers, better coordination of the current workforce development landscape and greater emphasis on individuals who are further removed from the labour market.

On October 21, 2021, we hosted a webinar to discuss the ICE commissioned research report about these issues, “Advancing a Workforce Development Agenda for Toronto.”

The event was moderated by Christine Carrasco, ICE Committee Member and Manager Workforce Development with the City of Toronto. Tom Zizys provided an overview of the research followed by reflections and comments from Adriana Beemans, Inclusive Local Economies Program Director at the Metcalf Foundation and a Q&A period.