In this podcast, Brock Dickinson, an Adjunct Professor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence with the University of Waterloo, asks the question “how we do prepare students and workers for this new reality where big data and artificial intelligence (AI) have reshaped the world of economic development?” A major distinction between capitalism and socialism has always been over the notion of who owns the means of production. Brock dives into how AI and automation transformed not just the manufacturing sector, but professional occupations and industries.

This episode features an interview with Earl Anthony Wayne, an accomplished diplomat and executive, Ambassador Wayne has served in a wide variety of positions during his career, including as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe. In this episode, he discusses where the U.S. ranks when it comes to preparing for the workforce challenges of tomorrow, the skills that workers will need, and the need to understand the global supply chain.

Kevin Stolarick is a Visiting Researcher and Provocateur at OCAD University in Toronto, Canada and a Senior Research Associate at the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University. Dubbed the “Official Statistician of the Creative Class”, Kevin combines expertise on cities, inclusion, urbanization, statistics, design, and economic development with an appreciation of the importance of finding and sharing the knowledge or “pearls of wisdom” gained from leveraging his research, writing, management and organizational skills.

In this episode of Workforce Central Canada, Kevin and Ron discuss micro-credentials, the future of work, the economics of diversity and inclusion in work, and more.  

Highlights:

•    Micro credentials are increasingly useful way to demonstrate to employers you have the skills they want. Credentials should be transferrable to allow learners to transfer them from one employer to another.  
•    Post-secondary education may have a limited lifespan because there are other more efficient ways to gain skills.
•    Not recognizing the prior learning of many Canadian immigrants greatly limits their employment opportunities.
•    Kevin touches on the positive effects of diversity and inclusion on economic development.

Ron is joined by Simon Chan VP, Talent, Academy and Future of Work at Communitech and Christine Robinson Head of Human Resources at Manulife to discuss taking a human-centered and community based approach to tackling the future of work. Communitech and Manulife have partnered in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada to lead the formation of a community coalition of stakeholders (private sector, academia, and government) which is the first of its kind in Canada to address the challenges posed by the disruptive trends impacting the workforce. In their process they convened community meetings, interviewed workers, held workshops, and crowdsourced community based solutions for those likely to be impacted by these upcoming changes. They also shared their vision for how this innovative community based approach could be scaled to other communities with the ultimate goal of building healthy organizations and resilient communities.

Lisa Taylor is President of Challenge Factory and the Center of Career Innovation. She is the co-author of The Talent Revolution. Through case studies, metrics, strategies, and tactics, The Talent Revolution explores the impact of workforce demographics on the future of work and provides new, actionable strategies for turning an aging workforce into a competitive advantage.

Episode highlights:

• Employees are not just an asset but are rather the greatest source of equity.
• Five drivers are shaping the world of work: demographics and longevity, career ownership, the freelance economy, new business models, AI robotics
• When older workers are engaged in ways that leverage their experience and knowledge, youth unemployment drops.
• The best way to adapt as our workforce continues to grow and advance is to address how we deal with those who have been in the workforce the longest.

Bob Magee, Chairman of Woodbridge group, Vice Chair of Canada’s Next Generation Manufacturing Supercluster, joins Ron to discuss the ever-changing manufacturing industry and workforce. 

Steven Tobin, Labour Market Information Council in Canada, Executive Director

• Education still matters, but we need to do a better job at specifying the skills associated with jobs. 30% of Canadians have an education greater than what is typically required of the job they hold.