Reddit reviews The Big Shift: The Seismic Change In Canadian Politics, Business

The Big Shift - John Ibbitson and Darrel Bricker

1. My perception is that companies tend to place a much greater value on experience than schooling. The government does what it can to encourage businesses to hire inexperienced graduates, but it is up to industry to actually hire and train these people. Which is why I said it is hard to blame the govt. for the perceived skills shortage (which I think would more accurately labeled an experience shortage.) Taxes pay for schools because schools are a public good. There is far more to universities than simply skills training.
   
   
2. I wouldn't be able to comment on how accurately the market values skills. I can agree that people with power and influence will probably overvalue the fields they came from.
   
   
3. I would probably rank refugee, family, economic, investor. I put more value on family because it makes Canada an attractive place to immigrate to. If you trust the analysis in The Big Shift than there may be strong competition for immigrants in the future. If this were true then Canada would do well to remain known as an excellent country to move to. On the other hand, mass automation may reduce the need for immigrants so who really knows.
   
   
4. I was thinking more along the lines of the salary and hours quoted not being sustainable over an entire career.