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Building a prosperous Canada through our people, ideas and communities

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August 04, 2023

Three student standing outside a research complex building on a university campus.

Canada’s future depends upon its people, its ideas and its communities. Society is experiencing transformative technological, social, economic and political changes. Across the country, Canadians are stepping up to solve the challenges of our increasingly competitive and complex world.

Canada’s universities are leading this work. Institutions are training over 1.4 million students to build a highly skilled, diverse and adaptable workforce. They are anchors of communities and engines of prosperity across Canada, employing nearly 410,000 people and spearheading the research and development that facilitate innovation and economic growth.

As Canada transitions towards a net-zero economy, economists predict as many as 400,000 new jobs will be added in fields that demand enhanced skills. As early as 2025, the country could be short 27,000 environmental workers, including senior managers, engineers and physical scientists. Universities are key to delivering this talent.