Thematic Year 2025–2026 Activity: Education and Workforce Development

On December 4, a new activity was held as part of CIRANO’s 2025–2026 thematic year. Education and workforce development are essential levers for improving productivity and reducing inequalities. In this context, a key question arises: how can we ensure that young people have access to accurate and relevant information to support their educational and career choices?

During this conference, CIRANO researchers presented their work, addressing these issues from different perspectives.

Presentations focused in particular on the private and social returns to professional, college, and university postsecondary education in Quebec, by François Vaillancourt, as well as on the impact of the cost of higher education on the choice of strategic, scientific, and mathematical fields of study in Quebec and Canada, by Christian Belzil.

The results of the recently published report on the emergence of the bioeconomy and its implications for the development of the labour market in Quebec were also presented. This presentation by Michel Magnan and Bryan Campbell highlighted the challenges and skills needs associated with this sector.

Participants were also introduced to ongoing work by Dalibor Stevanovic and Geneviève Dufour, which examines the causes of the decline in the number of graduates from bachelor’s and master’s programs in economics over recent decades. A publication is forthcoming.

Finally, also in connection with the thematic year, the Pour réflexion publication revisits the day held on October 30, 2025, which focused on research and data in education.