Gabriel Miller
President & CEO, Universities Canada
As skills shortages grow, Canadian universities are shaping talent, innovation, and opportunity across the economy.
Canada’s economy is being reshaped by rapid technological change, demographic pressures, and growing demand for advanced skills. From AI and quantum technologies to health care and defence, employers across sectors are seeking workers who can adapt, problem-solve, and continue learning throughout their careers.
“At a time of rising costs of living and economic uncertainty, Canadians are rightly asking what kind of career training pays off,” says Gabriel Miller, President and CEO of Universities Canada. “The evidence is clear: a university education remains one of the most reliable pathways to long-term income stability and job security.”
Data supports that claim. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of 24 per cent more than the national income average, and the gap widens over time. Five years after graduation, university graduates earn $18,000 more annually than their college counterparts, while also experiencing lower unemployment rates. In an uncertain economy, those outcomes matter.
A knowledge-driven economy needs adaptable talent
Yet today’s workforce challenge extends beyond first jobs. As technology evolves faster than ever, skills can become outdated in years rather than decades. Canadians are changing careers more often and seeking education that fits around work and family responsibilities.
“The pace of change in the labour market means education is no longer a one-time event at the start of a career,” Miller says. “Continuing education allows Canadians to update their skills, change direction, and stay connected to the workforce without stepping away from work.”
A university education continues to open doors, not only to employment, but to long-term flexibility and opportunity in an uncertain world.
Universities are responding by expanding continuing education, micro-credentials, and flexible learning pathways. In 2025 alone, Canadian universities recorded more than 380,000 enrolments in continuing education programs, reflecting rising demand for lifelong learning across the country.
Universities also play a critical role in preparing Canadians to work alongside emerging technologies. According to Statistics Canada, most jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree — including roles in health care, education, and engineering — are highly complementary with AI. With more than 50 AI-related programs offered nationwide, universities are equipping graduates with both technical expertise and human judgment, skills automation cannot replace.
Beyond skills development, universities are central to talent attraction and retention. They educate more than one million students each year, draw global researchers and innovators to Canada, and anchor regional economies through research partnerships, entrepreneurship, and work-integrated learning.
From skills gaps to career resilience
To make these contributions more visible, Universities Canada recently launched possiblewithu.ca, a new digital platform that connects university education to real-world outcomes. Through concrete examples, from agricultural innovation to medical technologies, the site shows how university learning and research benefit Canadians directly.
“The economy is becoming more knowledge-driven, not less,” Miller says. “A university education continues to open doors, not only to employment, but to long-term flexibility and opportunity in an uncertain world.”
Learn more at possiblewithu.ca.
