trends-2011-vol1-enrolment-e

g more
ns
rowing demand for
arket
The report also found that most of the occupations that faced
25-to-29 years
shortages in 2005 were those that required a university degree.
These included occupations in the natural and applied sciences, as
well as several health, education and management occupations.
45-to-54 years
40% 50% 60%
2005
25-to-29 years
Community College,
CEGEP
Trade certificate
45-to-54 years
There is increased recognition by governments that the key to
sustained competitiveness, growth and prosperity is the ability of
firms to innovate and adapt in a rapidly changing and highly
globalized business environment. To thrive in such an environment,
all sectors depend on high quality human capital as an essential
source of skills, knowledge and ideas. Because universities are
uniquely positioned to drive the formation of this type of human
capital, the continued evolution towards a more innovative,
knowledge-based economy will increase labour market demand
for university-educated graduates.
The growing recognition of the role of small- and medium-size
enterprises in national economies also has the potential to drive
growth in labour-market demand. Small, young, innovation-focused
enterprises have the potential to grow rapidly, and university
graduates are key contributors to the success of these enterprises.
The OECD has recently highlighted how governments can facilitate
Community College, CEGEP
growth 2010 among SMEs by linking them with university knowledge
and research flows, and ensuring they have access to highly skilled
human capital. 25 A recent U.K. study shows that SMEs that attracted
university graduates have been growing much more quickly than
those which did not hire graduates. As governments in Canada
continue to encourage innovation and growth among SMEs, labourmarket
demand for the linkages, skills, and knowledge that graduates
can offer will continue to grow. This situation is not unique to
SMEs. In public and private enterprises of all sizes, taking innovative
approaches to organizing the workplace and developing products
and services is increasingly recognized as vital to improving
productivity and staying competitive.
Competitiveness will increasingly become a preoccupation of
Total
both the private and public sector in the years to come, as Canada
Trades
prepares for a demographic shift Proportion that of will employees see with baby a boomers retire
university degree 2010
from the workplace. From 2010 to 2030, the population over the
Employment change 1990 to 2010
age
Services
of 65 will double, resulting in greater demand for services–
Clerical and
financial, Secretaries social and health – to support this aging population. During
that time, population growth alone will not generate signi ficant
labour force increases, especially in the latter half of the period,
to meet the demand created by this demographic shift. 26 Under
Statistics Canada’s medium population growth scenario, there would be
only eight percent more adults aged 25-to-64 over the next 20 years
compared
Professions
to a 30 percent increase in this working age population
in professors the past 20 years. For the Canadian economy to grow, the labour
force -30% will need 0% to grow 30% in both 60% size and 90% productivity. 120% 150%
Primary – Forestry,
Agriculture, etc.
Manufacturing
Other Sales and
Technical, administrative
and health support
Management
Business and Finance
Professionals
Art, Culture and
Recreation professionals
Health Professionals
Engineers and
Applied Scientists
Social and Legal
Teachers and
While the number of retirements overall will increase, the outlook
for Canada’s economy is further exacerbated by the rapid increase
in the number of highly experienced and productive graduates who
Thousands employed aged 50 or older
400
300
200
100
0
FIGURE 30: The demand for knowledge workers is being
driven by employment growth in occupations that typically
require university education
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey
FIGURE 31: Looking ahead, labour demands will grow further
given the need to replace the number of people expected to retire
800
In 1990, just 270,000 of all
working university graduates
Graduate degrees
700 were age 50 or older
Bachelor's
600
By 2009, 1.13 million were
50 plus – a 4.2-fold increase
over 1990
500
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
Source: AUCC using Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey data
Bachelor’s
Graduate degrees
2006
2008
By 2009, 1.13 million we
- a 4.2-fold increase ove
In 1990 just 270,000
of all working university
were age 50 or older
AUCC
Trends in Higher Education | Volume 1. Enrolment | 35