CIRANO, in collaboration with the ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MESS), is engaged in a partnership to develop a Government-Oriented Research Program (PRPG). This partnership brings together seven ministries: Higher Education, Economy, Innovation and Energy, Education, Family, Finance, Immigration, Francization and Integration, and Health and Social Services.

Led by Benoit Dostie, Professor at HEC Montréal, and Fabian Lange, Professor at McGill University, both principal researchers of the CIRANO's Skills theme, along with Genevieve Dufour, Director of Major Collaborative Projects, this partnership aims to analyze the alignment between the labor supply and the needs of the labor market in Quebec to develop effective governmental interventions. This initiative is structured around six research areas and will result in the production of original research by CIRANO, the organization of roundtable discussions between the scientific community and government ministries, the dissemination of findings through conferences, and the publication of a newsletter on the PRPG.

→ Meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Government-Oriented Research Program on November 22, 2024

During this meeting, Fabian Lange (McGill University and CIRANO), Luc Godbout (Université de Sherbrooke and CIRANO), Marie Connolly (UQAM and CIRANO), Brahim Boudarbat (Université de Montréal and CIRANO), Benoit Dostie (HEC Montréal and CIRANO), and Genevieve Dufour (CIRANO) presented the findings of their analyses on the six main research areas related to the labor market:

• Labor Market Participation
• Immigration
• Higher Education/Education
• Innovation/Productivity
• Taxation
• Access to Regulated Professions

Meetings between the research team and the involved ministries are planned to explore the research avenues identified as part of this initiative.

→ Presentation of a CIRANO Report at the GORP Lunchtime Conferences on November 28, 2024

As part of the GORP lunchtime conferences, Benoit Aubert (HEC Montréal and CIRANO) and Simon Bourdeau (UQAM and CIRANO) presented the findings of the report titled « Évaluation des compétences numériques dans les emplois au Québec et au Canada », Co-written with Thierry Warin (HEC Montréal and CIRANO), to nearly a hundred representatives from various ministries.

The study highlights that while advanced technological skills are sometimes required for certain jobs, they are often overshadowed by the need for basic technological skills. A deficit in basic digital skills persists in Canada, at times hindering business productivity. In a context increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, these gaps raise questions about the ability of companies and employees to effectively use these tools. The findings suggest a need to reassess when digital skills are acquired, positioning them as essential, on par with literacy and numeracy.