- Nearly two-thirds of jobs held by Indigenous workers are
at risk of a skills overhaul;
- Indigenous youth less confident in their digital literacy
skills compared to non-Indigenous youth;
- Less than 25 per cent of households in First Nations
communities have access to high-speed internet;
- The success of Indigenous youth will be key to
Canada's success – and to the
ongoing process of reconciliation into the 2030s and
beyond.
TORONTO, ON, July 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Indigenous youth are
growing four times faster than Canada's non-Indigenous
population, representing a vital influx of entrepreneurs,
innovators, managers and business owners for years to come. But a
new RBC report says many are not being fully prepared to seize the
opportunities of the country's rapidly changing economy.
"Over the next decade, 750,000 young Indigenous Peoples will
move through the education system and into early careers, at a time
when advanced technologies are transforming every sector in the
country," said John Stackhouse,
Senior Vice-President, RBC. "Preparing Indigenous youth for this
digital future is essential to Canada's long-term prosperity and the ongoing
process of reconciliation."
There are reasons to be 'cautiously optimistic' about the
prospects of Canada's fastest
growing cohort of youth. Indigenous People are being drawn into the
broader economy more than ever before, demonstrated through
increased Indigenous ownership of resources and infrastructure,
increased presence in key supply chains and new partnerships
between private companies and communities. Moreover, many
Indigenous youth are also confident in their foundational skills
essential to succeed in the workplace, such as critical thinking,
communication and collaboration.
But Building Bandwidth – Preparing Indigenous youth for a
digital future found that many Indigenous youth lacked
confidence in their digital literacy skills, lagging 13 per cent
behind non-Indigenous peers in an RBC Future Launch survey.
"Narrowing this gap in digital skills would enable Indigenous
youth to unlock a host of opportunities in the future of work and,
in turn, significantly increase their earning potential," said
Stackhouse. "More importantly, access to a meaningful career helps
foster a stronger connection to community, and builds greater
confidence and optimism for the future. A national skills agenda
for Indigenous youth is crucial to building a more prosperous and
inclusive Canada."
Through an 18-month consultation with Indigenous youth and
leaders, educators, and employers, the report outlines 8
recommendations that might help to prepare Indigenous youth for the
digital future. They include:
- Fulfilling the federal commitment to provide high-speed to
every Canadian by 2030, prioritizing underserviced Indigenous
communities.
- Increasing access to venture capital, with special focus on the
new Indigenous Growth Fund, a $150
million commitment from the Government of Canada, Business Development Bank of
Canada and other government
agencies.
- Allocating additional funding for digital devices and
technology courses in primary and secondary schools, both on- and
off-reserve, under the transfer formulas used by Indigenous
Services Canada and the provincial and territorial education
ministries.
- Closing the gaps in access to work-integrated learning for
Indigenous youth, by entrenching the subsidy for Indigenous
students under the federal Student Work Placement program,
expanding remote WIL options and through matching tools between
employers and candidates.
- Expanding academic bridging programs at universities, colleges
and apprenticeship programs that boost fundamental and digital
skills for Indigenous learners and improve outcomes in higher
learning.
- Expanding representation of Indigenous culture, languages and
content in online spaces by making digital-first approaches a
priority for arts councils, and increasing the reach of Indigenous
social media influencers who are promoting their culture
online.
The report cites if Indigenous populations were able to
participate in the economy at a level matching the average income
of the Canadian worker, the country could generate an additional
$67 billion in GDP.
Stackhouse added that, "at a time when many Canadians are
reflecting on our recent history, and ongoing relationship with
Indigenous Peoples, our collective efforts take on a heightened
meaning and importance. A national skills agenda will ensure our
fastest growing youth population are provided with the skills and
opportunities to participate fully in the economy, and in turn,
help Canada grow sustainably well
into the future."
About the report
This RBC report was developed within
its Humans Wanted research program, which looks at the skills
challenge ahead for young Canadians, and identified the skills that
will prepare Canada's youth to
thrive in the workplaces of the future. It acknowledges generations
of Indigenous youth have faced unique barriers. In many places,
pressing needs like clean water, appropriate housing and equal
education continue to go unmet. RBC is committed to the
reconciliation journey, and for over 25 years has been working on
specific initiatives with Indigenous Peoples and communities to
generate genuine and meaningful change. For this report, we focus
more narrowly on where we believe the broader economy is heading
and what we feel needs to happen in order for Indigenous youth to
access the opportunities of the 2020s.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with
a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading
performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees who
leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision,
values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and
communities prosper. As Canada's
biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market
capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus
on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17
million clients in Canada, the
U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives
through donations, community investments and employee volunteer
activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.
SOURCE RBC