Tapping Economic Potential Through Broader Workforce Participation

Bringing more members of these groups into jobs is also very important, but we have focused attention on the groups for which increased participation in the workforce will have the greatest economic impact, since we believe that the better the economy performs, the greater the opportunity for all Canadians. [...] Further, it is important to note that policy makers are not the only actors in this space—employers, both private and public, have a role to play in establishing the conditions for more inclusive participation in the workforce. [...] The availability of flexible work schedules will depend largely on the nature of the job and industry and on the labour needs and attitudes of the employer. [...] Here, we point to a few areas for exploration that could increase inclusion in the workforce for Indigenous peoples, to be considered not only by the agencies and programs of the federal government but also by the Indigenous community’s many economic-development, business, and political organizations focused on building a healthy labour market. [...] The federal government could work with indigenous communities and the private sector to identify options for the development of Northern and rural networks.