Workforce Summit 2024: Agenda

Agenda

October 16, 2024

Morning Sessions

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. - Registration

Tea and coffee will be available on arrival.

8:30 a.m. to 8:35 a.m. - Welcome and Territorial Acknowledgement

8:35 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. - Welcoming Prayer

8:55 a.m. to 9:05 a.m. - Overview of Day

9:05 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. - Ministerial Welcome and Morning Keynote Address

9:20 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Plenary Session 1: Canada’s Labour Market and How We Compare in the World

International and Canadian perspectives on current context and emerging trends, including opportunities and challenges.

10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. - Health Break

10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Morning Breakout Sessions - Key Trends and Drivers and Implications for Workforce Strategies

• Breakout 1 - Digital Economy and Changing Nature of Work

  Impact of a changing labour force, such as gig work and part-time work, technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, quantum computing, and digital adoption on small and medium-sized enterprises, labour productivity and growth.

• Breakout 2 - Workforce Development for a Low Carbon Economy

  Different aspects of a net-zero economy such as conservation, adaptation, cleantech, etc. and the range of supports needed to help workers develop skills to meet new workplace demands.

• Breakout 3 - Demographic Shifts, Diversity and Inclusion: Maximizing Labour Force Participation

  Approaches to improving labour market outcomes considering changing demographics, the needs of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups and strengthening employee engagement to innovate and improve productivity.

Lunch

12:00 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. 

Afternoon Sessions

12:50 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Welcome Back

1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. - Afternoon Keynote Address

1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Plenary Session 2: Innovation to Increase Employer Involvement in Skills Development

Innovative approaches to industry and employer involvement to develop effective practices for employee attraction, recruitment, development, and retention.

2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. - Health Break

2:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. - Afternoon Breakout Sessions - Building Canada’s Workforce for the Future

• Breakout 4 - Improving Newcomer Outcomes – Imperative in Globally Competitive Market for Talent

  Alignment of immigration and labour market policies as well as improving labour market programming to better meet the needs of permanent and temporary residents and improving their participation in Canada’s labour force.

• Breakout 5 - Better Aligning Workforce Development Strategies with Economic Priorities

  Identifying economic priority areas of focus in growth sectors and effective practices to overcome barriers to participation (e.g., upskilling initiatives, work-integrated learning, competency-based approaches), and to meet domestic needs such as housing and green buildings; agriculture; biomanufacturing; transportation and supply chains, and critical minerals.

• Breakout 6 - Place-Based Approaches to Maximize Benefits of Economic Development and Workforce Development Strategies

  Recognizing distinct needs in official language minority, urban, rural, remote and Indigenous communities and yielding the greatest return through comprehensive economic development and workforce development approaches, including a particular emphasis on industry reliant communities in transition.

4:15 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. - Wrap-up and Closing Remarks

Reception

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

All participants are invited to attend a reception for networking and further reflection on the day’s discussions.