An innovative economy requires a highly skilled workforce. The Skills Research Initiative (SRI) aimed to build the knowledge base required for policy in order to ensure that the skilled labour force needed by an innovative economy will be available. The SRI was a collaborative, medium-term policy-research program sponsored by Industry Canada (IC), Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
The Contributions Program for Non-profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations was established by the Office of Consumer Affairs in order to support such organizations in the production of high quality, independent and timely research on consumer issues.
The National Research Council Canada Student Employment Program provides post-secondary students with practical work experience in research and development, library sciences, communications and marketing.
The National Research Council Co-op Program offers work terms to post-secondary students so that they can acquire practical and professional work experience.
In the past two years, APEC has produced reports on the economic impact of the forest industries in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Firms in this industry, one of the most significant in the region, face an increasingly complex environment. This article highlights key findings of the two reports, with data updated to the most recent year and coverage extended, where possible, to the four Atlantic provinces. The value of forest-related activity in the Atlantic provinces in 1998 was over $1.3 billion.
The forest industry is a key component of New Brunswick’s economic base but its contribution is a risk due to limited fibre supply. This report provides a detailed assessment of the industry’s current economic impact and estimates the potential economic impact of proposals to increase the wood supply from Crown land.
Atlantic Canada’s forest industry is contracting as a result of intense global market pressures. Between 2004 and 2006 the number of firms in Atlantic Canada’s forest industry dropped by 11% while the industry shed more than 8,000 jobs. This 24% decline in employment is more than double the 11% drop nationally. Despite these losses, the forest industry remains a crucial part of Atlantic Canada’s economy, currently accounting for about 15% of international merchandise exports and contributing 4.5% of total GDP in 2005.
In early November 2010, the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC) held its 16th annual Business Outlook conference. In this report, we feature the event's keynote and industry leaders who outlined the key opportunities and drivers shaping Atlantic Canada's energy future. The report also includes a summary of the address by APEC President Elizabeth Beale on whether a new era of regional energy cooperation is dawning in Atlantic Canada.
Skilled trades people are a critical part of the labour force requirement for the offshore oil and gas industry, particularly during the development or construction phase of a project. This report presents estimates of the number of unionized construction workers in Nova Scotia in selected trades of relevance for the offshore, along with a detailed profile of their skills, credentials and experience.
One of the most pressing issues for the forest industry in Canada is the dwindling supply of labour, and in particular the lack of skilled workers. Until recently, a labour surplus ensured an adequate supply of new workers for resource based firms across Nova Scotia. However, a decline in the birth rate, competition from other industries, and out-migration to western Canada have all served to reduce the pool of available workers. The productivity and profitability of firms in the forest industry depends on the skills and capabilities of its workforce.
