I recently reviewed a new publication from the Labour Market Information Council (LMIC), Labour Market Imbalances: An LMIC Guide. While written as a general resource, the report strongly reinforces what ASPECT members experience every day. Labour market challenges are local, complex, and cannot be solved through data alone.
The report reminds us that there is no single Canadian labour market. Conditions vary by region, sector, occupation, and population. National averages may help identify broad trends, but they often mask the realities faced by employers and job seekers in specific communities, particularly in rural, remote, Indigenous, and equity-deserving contexts. This is precisely where community-based employment service providers add value.
LMIC identifies three types of labour market imbalances: labour shortages, labour surpluses, and skills mismatches. Importantly, it cautions against oversimplifying these dynamics. A high vacancy rate does not automatically signal a shortage, and unemployment figures alone do not capture who is excluded from the labour force or why. Skills mismatches, where workers exist but their skills, credentials, or experience do not align with employer needs, are especially difficult to diagnose using traditional labour market indicators.
This is where ASPECT members play a critical system role.
Community-based providers interpret labour market information in context. They translate high-level data into practical, place-based guidance for individuals and employers, taking into account barriers such as transportation, housing, caregiving, health, and accessibility. These factors rarely appear in labour market dashboards, yet they fundamentally shape workforce participation.
Our members also address skills mismatches through strong employer partnerships, targeted training, work-integrated learning, and wraparound supports. Just as importantly, they work with employers to rethink job design, reduce credential inflation, and improve retention. This shifts the conversation from there are no workers to how we better match work with people.
The report also highlights that labour market indicators lag economic change. Community-based providers, by contrast, see emerging pressures early. They observe changes in job quality, rising underemployment, and new barriers affecting specific populations before these issues appear in formal data.
The takeaway is clear. Addressing labour market imbalances requires more than projections and models. It requires trusted, community-embedded organizations that understand both people and employers. ASPECT members are already doing this work. Our role is to ensure that policy and funding frameworks fully recognize and leverage this expertise.
Janet Morris-Reade, CEO, ASPECT BC
