As workplaces and jobs change, our new application will mean professionals can access trailblazing research, gain valuable insights on how societal changes will impact their jobs, and access professional development opportunities that can help them advance their careers.
An opinion by Debi Daviau
Two years ago, who could have imagined that the tens of thousands of public servants who normally work at locations such as Place du Portage would now be working from their living rooms, bedrooms, and dining room tables? Anticipating changes to labour markets and equipping workers with the new skills needed to adapt to dynamically shifting workplaces is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, writes Debi Daviau. The Hill Times
There are many lessons to be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, but surely the greatest lesson is the need to be better prepared. The next crisis is coming and whether it's a cyber security breach, a health crisis, or climate related, our public service must be ready.
To handle these future crises and be prepared to deal with pervasive societal changes, Canada needs a well-trained and resilient public service. Canada's public service has been recognized as one of most effective worldwide, but we need to continue to up-skill public servants so that we can be ready the next time a crisis hits. The reality is that most employers, including the Government of Canada, have not yet begun to seriously address the challenges of rapidly changing workplaces and evolving technologies, like automation and AI. The public service needs to prepare now and gain a better understanding of what skills are needed for the jobs of the future and what kind of training do public servants require.
Change is now the norm for our workplaces and Canada's public service is no exception. Two ago, who could have imagined that the tens of thousands of public servants who normally work at Tunney's Pasture, Place du Portage, and Brooke Claxton would now be working from their living rooms, bedrooms, and dining room tables? Anticipating changes to labour markets and equipping workers with the new skills needed to adapt to dynamically shifting workplaces is one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
To rise to these challenges, employers, workers, governments, and unions must all work together on innovative, new, long-term solutions.
For our part, the Professional Institute for the Public Service (PIPSC) is seeking to use the latest cutting-edge technologies to help Canada's professional public service prepare to succeed in the face of the swirling forces of technological, social, environmental, and economic change. We want to help our members access the career advice and skills they need to thrive professionally and provide exceptional service to Canadians.
With a new investment of $2.6-million from the Future Skills Centre (FSC), PIPSC is now developing a novel tool to help train and educate professional public servants. As workplaces and jobs change, our new application will mean professionals can access trailblazing research, gain valuable insights on how societal changes will impact their jobs, and access professional development opportunities that can help them advance their careers.
We have heard time and again from our members that they want to improve their skills and be prepared for technological change-like growing automation and AI. Our research showed an overwhelming majority-70 per cent of our members-expressed a strong desire for better educational and professional development opportunities. Professional public servants are looking for help to start developing the skills today that will make them successful in tomorrow's workplace.
PIPSC is looking to engage the government in a spirit of collaboration around future workplace planning and addressing the pressing challenge of reskilling and upskilling the public service. The work we are doing will help make sure Canada's professional public service is ready to flourish and meet the next crisis, head on.
Remember, when our public service succeeds, that means the Government of Canada is succeeding in providing everyday Canadians with the services they rely on. Today, tomorrow, and into the future. That is something we should all get behind.
Debi Daviau is president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Originally posted on The Hill Times on October 13, 2021.