Shad Canada doesn’t believe our country has a talent problem—we have an activation problem. And nowhere is that clearer than in the disconnect between the untapped potential of our youth and the country’s worsening productivity crisis.
The economic warning lights are flashing red. According to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey released this week, Canada’s GDP growth is projected to slow to just 1.0% in 2025 and 1.1% in 2026. The average Canadian is now 30% less productive than their U.S. counterpart, with wages lagging by about 8% and investment returns significantly lower. Our economic growth per person hasn’t just stalled—it’s slid backward. And yet, we’re sitting on one of the most valuable assets in the global economy: a rising generation of creative, capable, and ambitious young people ready to lead.
What we need is a national wake-up call. The future of work is changing. Automation is already reshaping entry-level jobs. Half the workforce will require retraining by 2030. At the same time, Canada’s economy desperately needs new ideas, bold innovation, and greater investment in value-added industries like AI, clean energy, agriculture, and biotechnology.
This isn’t a story of doom—it’s a story of opportunity. But only if we stop asking whether young people are ready for the future, and start asking whether we’re ready to support them in shaping it.
Right now, Canada faces a unique moment. Our aging workforce is shifting out of key industries just as transformative technologies like AI, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing demand new kinds of talent—talent that is adaptive, interdisciplinary, and globally competitive. Infrastructure is about to be built at historic scale, creating pathways into skilled trades, technical design, and innovation-focused industries. We don’t just need a new workforce—we need a new talent activation strategy.
We can’t wait until university or government retraining programs to begin. We need to start earlier—building pathways that connect high school students, especially from underrepresented and rural communities, to hands-on experiences that build confidence, teach collaboration, and make STEM, entrepreneurship, and applied innovation feel relevant to their lives.
Programs focused on experiential learning, that embrace failure as part of the process, and help youth build both hard and soft skills are our best levers for future-proofing Canada’s economy. When students tackle real-world challenges, work in interdisciplinary teams, and are mentored by leaders in emerging sectors, they gain more than skills—they gain direction.
The problem isn’t a lack of talent. Our population of educated youth is growing. But talent without activation is a missed opportunity. We need to give students early exposure to workforce challenges, supportive networks, and the skills to adapt as industries evolve.
This is also about confidence. An Ipsos survey conducted with Canadian youth found that while over 75% believe STEM fields offer strong career potential, a majority also feel ill-equipped to succeed in them—often due to lack of confidence in math or science, or lack of visible role models. A 15-year-old who doesn't believe there's a place for them in innovation or engineering is unlikely to pursue that path at 25.
At the same time, Canada is investing billions into AI, green energy, and infrastructure—fields where demand for talent will soon outpace supply unless we build capacity now. If we don’t shape that pipeline domestically, we risk missing a major window for economic growth.
The Bank of Canada points to three levers for higher productivity: smarter capital investment, stronger training, and better use of the talent we already have. It’s not just about education—it’s about activation. That’s what transforms bright minds into bold contributors.
If we want young people to pursue careers in AI, climate, health innovation, or advanced manufacturing, we need to build their confidence early. We need to reach them—on digital platforms, in rural communities, and across underrepresented groups—and show them there’s space for them in these fields.
Supporting youth isn’t charity. It’s strategy. Research from York University shows younger workers significantly boost innovation. Countries that empower youth don’t just grow faster—they grow smarter.
The question isn’t whether Canada’s youth are ready. It’s whether we are. Are we willing to invest in a generation that thinks differently and wants to build a better world?
They’re already leading. Let’s help them scale.
Tim Jackson, CEO, Shad Canada