SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC
Reimagining education: A polytechnic path to youth employment – and Canada's resilience

Canada stands at a crossroads. Youth unemployment is surging, reaching levels more typically seen during recessions: 14.7 per cent nationally, with Saskatchewan's only slightly lower at 13.4 per cent.

These are not just numbers. They reflect a growing disconnect between education and employment.

As we navigate economic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, and rapid technological change, one thing is clear: Canada's global competitiveness and economic resilience depend on how we prepare young people for the future of work. That means reimagining education - through a polytechnic lens.

Youth unemployment: A barrier to growth

Youth unemployment is not just a social concern - it's a strategic economic vulnerability. A generation of talent is being sidelined at a time when innovation and productivity are more critical than ever. These young Canadians are eager to contribute, yet many find themselves underemployed or stuck in roles that don't match their skills or aspirations.

Businesses struggle to find skilled workers, while graduates struggle to find meaningful work. This disconnect stalls innovation, slows economic growth, and undermines our ability to compete globally.

The cost of inaction is steep. Economic modeling suggests that persistent youth unemployment could result in billions in lost GDP and government revenue over the next decade. More importantly, it's a missed opportunity to harness the energy, creativity, and adaptability of our next generation. It's a silent drag on our economy - and it demands bold action.

To close this gap, we must rethink how we prepare young people for the workforce. That means moving beyond traditional education models and embracing approaches that are agile, industry-aligned, and outcome-driven. Polytechnic education offers exactly that - a pathway where learning is applied, partnerships are deep, and employment is the goal.

The polytechnic advantage: Built for the future of work

Polytechnic education is more than a system - it's a philosophy rooted in relevance, responsiveness, and results. At its core, it is applied, experiential, and deeply connected to the industries it serves. It's education that doesn't just prepare students for the future - it places them in it.

Polytechnics deliver hands-on, career-focussed programs where students learn by doing - through labs, simulations, co-ops, and apprenticeships. Applied research projects mirror the challenges they'll face in the workplace.

Polytechnic graduates walk with one foot in the classroom and the other in industry. They solve real-world problems and leave with both technical skills and practical experience.

This model contrasts with traditional academic pathways, which often emphasize theory over practice and can be slower to adapt to changing labour market needs. While universities play a vital role in research and foundational knowledge, polytechnics are built to respond quickly to emerging trends - whether it's AI, clean energy, or advanced manufacturing.

Successful polytechnic models are thriving across Canada and around the world. These institutions don't just educate - they empower. They serve as engines of innovation and bridges between learning and labour. In a time of economic transformation, polytechnics offer a model that is not only relevant - but essential.

Bridging the skills gap: Education that works

Canada's labour market is evolving at an unprecedented pace. From automation and AI to the green economy and digital transformation, the skills employers need today differ significantly from those needed even five years ago. This rapid change has exposed a persistent and costly gap between education and employment - a gap polytechnics are uniquely equipped to bridge.

Polytechnic institutions are agile by design. They collaborate closely with industry to ensure programs reflect current and future workforce needs. Advisory boards, employer consultations, and labour market data inform curriculum development. When a new sector emerges or a skill becomes critical, polytechnics pivot quickly - launching new programs and updating existing ones, readying upskilling pathways, and integrating cutting-edge technologies.

Take, for example, Saskatchewan Polytechnic's BioScience Technology program, which prepares students for careers in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and environmental science - rapidly growing fields that demand specialized talent. Or BCIT's programs in cybersecurity and digital forensics, which directly address the urgent need for skilled professionals in Canada's tech sector. These are not theoretical exercises - they are pathways to employment.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is central to this model. Through co-ops, internships, and apprenticeships, students gain hands-on experience that translates directly into jobs. The federal government's recent investment in expanding WIL opportunities is a positive step in the right direction.

In a world where skills are currency, polytechnics are helping Canadians earn, adapt, and thrive, deploying vital talent when and where it is needed, and standing at the ready to update and re-deploy talent to meet what the country needs in this pivotal moment.

Enhancing Canada's global competitiveness

A nation's competitiveness is built on the strength of its workforce. When young people are skilled, employed, and empowered, they become catalysts for innovation and growth. Canada's ability to lead in emerging sectors depends on how effectively we prepare our youth to contribute.

Polytechnics are central to this effort. By aligning education with industry needs, they produce graduates who are not only job-ready but innovation-ready. These institutions serve as incubators for applied research, helping small and medium-sized enterprises test new ideas, adopt new technologies, and scale solutions. In doing so, polytechnics help derisk innovation and accelerate commercialization - two critical drivers of global competitiveness.

The long-term benefits are profound. A skilled youth workforce contributes to GDP growth, strengthens trade capacity, and enhances Canada's reputation as a destination for investment and innovation. It also ensures inclusive growth - reaching communities across the country and creating opportunity for all.

In short, polytechnics are not just responding to the future of work they're helping shape it. And in doing so, they're positioning Canada to thrive on the global stage.

A call to action: A national strategy to unlock potential

To unlock the potential of polytechnic education, Canada needs a coordinated national effort - one that unites policy-makers, industry, and academia in a shared mission to prepare the workforce for the future.

• Governments must recognize polytechnics as strategic assets in economic development. That means sustainable funding for core programming, applied research, infrastructure, and work-integrated learning. It means policy that supports flexibility, innovation, and rapid program development.
• Employers play a vital role as co-creators of curriculum, hosts of co-op placements, and champions of lifelong learning. Their insights into emerging skills and technologies are invaluable - and their investment in training and partnerships will determine how quickly we can close the skills gap.
• Educators must continue to evolve - embracing interdisciplinary learning, embedding digital literacy across programs, and expanding access through microcredentials and hybrid delivery models. Curriculum reform should be driven by data, informed by industry, and focused on outcomes.

Together, these stakeholders must commit to a national strategy that prioritizes workforce readiness, innovation, and inclusive growth. This framework should elevate polytechnic education as a cornerstone of Canada's economic resilience - ensuring every young person has a pathway to meaningful employment and every employer has access to the talent they need.

Families, too, have a role to play. Parents and youth need to better understand employment outcome data for the higher ed choices available, and to question the mindset that too often equates post-secondary education to university. Polytechnics can get students into the workforce more quickly, with real-world experience under their belt, and the career and critical thinking skills they need to be a valued employee.

Looking ahead: A nation of possibility

We have an opportunity to turn crisis into catalyst. By reimagining education through a polytechnic lens, we can empower the next generation, strengthen our economy, and position Canada as a global leader in innovation and resilience.

Let's not wait for the future to arrive. Let's build it - together.