OTTAWA—The Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council has released Bridging the Gaps, a report examining skill gaps in the Canadian printing industry.

The report, the final product of CPISC’s Training Needs Assessment Project, uses the council’s national skills standards to examine the gaps between actual and required skills of printing employees in the Canadian indnustry.

“The most startling finding is that although press operators possess the required operating skills, gaps exist when comparing the current and required core skills,” said CPISC Co-Chair Duncan Brown in a release. “For example, 39% of web offset press operators require teamwork skills to take on leadership roles and promote teamwork within an organization, and 34% of digital press operators lack workflow process and control skills to apply scheduling principles and analyze and interpret production performance.”

Bridging the Gap also compares skill shortfalls against available training from employers and education programs and presents recommendations to sustain a new delivery model. The report recommends CPISC lead by promoting the industry’s career paths, accrediting training programs, developing a recognition program, and providing training resources as well as mentorship support.

Click here to download a copy of the report from CPISC. Printed copies can be ordered through Info@cpisc-csic.ca.