Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Closing the Completion Gap: Improving Outcomes in Online Skills Training - Toronto Metropolitan University

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to Canada’s economy. Still, their ability to compete depends in part on developing the skills required to respond to labour shortages, technological change, and productivity pressures. Despite the importance of workforce development, SMEs are less likely to participate in formal training and often have limited time and resources, along with competing operational demands. Digital learning provides more flexible and accessible workplace training, but access alone does not guarantee participation. Existing workforce development approaches are plentiful and address different barriers, but their reach and effectiveness vary, requiring SMEs to navigate available options to find relevant training. This report draws on previous DI research on SME workforce training and the findings of Skills Bridge project, a pan-Canadian digital learning platform meant to provide SMEs with flexible access to relevant online courses.