Unlocking Canada’s Skills Potential Training Pathways, Participation, and Outcomes Beyond Post-secondary
DATA BRIEFING | August 24, 2026
Courtesy Signal49 Research
The Future Skills Centre (FSC) is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to driving innovation in skills development so that everyone in Canada can be prepared for the future of work. We partner with policymakers, researchers, practitioners, employers and labour, and post-secondary institutions to solve pressing labour market challenges and ensure that everyone can benefit from relevant lifelong learning opportunities. We are founded by a consortium whose members are Toronto Metropolitan University, Blueprint, and Signal49 Research, and are funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program.
Key findings
• Post-secondary education is only a starting point for most learners. Over 80 per cent of learners whose most recent training occurred outside the traditional system already hold a post-secondary credential, indicating that learners use these pathways to extend, update, and apply prior education.
• This ongoing learning is supported by a broad training ecosystem. Learners draw on a diverse mix of providers outside the formal post-secondary system—including private organizations, unions, and community-based non-profits—that deliver flexible, work-aligned training.
• Skills are built cumulatively across this ecosystem. Ninety percent of learners engage with multiple providers beyond post‑secondary, assembling skills over time rather than acquiring them through a single institution or program.
• Labour market outcomes are strongest when post-secondary education is complemented by additional, work-aligned training. Learners who build on prior credentials through training outside the post-secondary system are more likely to work full time and earn above $60,000 than those trained solely within it, particularly early in their careers.
• Learners report higher scores on job satisfaction and career alignment when their most recent training occurred outside the post-secondary system, compared with those whose most recent training occurred within it, suggesting a closer fit between skills and work.
• Training beyond the post-secondary system is helping address critical workforce needs. Learners who pursue this type of training are more likely to work in sectors facing persistent shortages—including construction, manufacturing, and mining, oil and gas—while also being well represented in health and education.
Here is the complete article: https://www.signal49.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/unlocking-canadas-skills-potential_aug2026.pdf