A More Equitable Rebound

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities in the Canadian workforce, impacting women, parents of young children, Indigenous, Black, racialized, and immigrant workers the most. Following the immediate impacts of the pandemic,  labour market participation rates have been slower to recover for racialized workers.  In Census 2021, for example, racialized people with post-secondary education experienced unemployment rates almost double that of their non-racialized counterparts. Despite high unemployment rates, especially for racialized workers, recruiting and retaining employees remains one of Canadian businesses’ top challenges.

To examine the pandemic’s ongoing impact on racialized communities, this report focuses on two key themes: career mobility and career advancement. Drawing from extensive primary research with racialized workers, employers, and subject matter experts, this paper highlights the ways in which employers, educational institutions, and civil society can better support workers to transition and advance in their  careers fluidly. Throughout the report, summary tables offer a customizable toolkit  of recommendations and resources for these groups.

Download our toolkit with employer resources here.