At our conference last November and again at Cannexus last week, Dr. Roberta Borgen and Cassie Taylor spoke about the importance of research in career development. Their message was clear: whether you work directly with job seekers, manage programs, or oversee contracts, you are well-positioned to contribute to research and advocate for both your clients and our sector.
It took me time to fully appreciate this idea, but my work as an advocate on your behalf has reinforced how powerful frontline stories and community-based research can be. Evidence grounded in lived experience influences policy, shifts practice, and helps us design systems that respond to real workforce needs.
That is why I have been pleased to support the knowledge mobilization activities for the Diversity Disconnect research led by ASPECT members Free Rein Associates and Life Strategies, and funded by ESDC. While the original research was released more than a year ago, what has been most striking is the global response that followed.
Through our Diversity Disconnect workshops, we saw firsthand how the findings could be put into action. We attracted participants from around the world, including many from the United States, at a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were being scaled back under new political leadership. The appetite for practical, community-informed solutions affirmed the leadership role our sector can play.
I am also delighted to share that the research team published a paper just two weeks ago in the Canadian Journal of Career Development, titled "Rural Realities: Bridging the Diversity Disconnect & Supporting Inclusion in Challenging Contexts" (p. 65), further validating the importance of this work. The study highlights a persistent rural challenge: employers struggle to find workers while many underrepresented individuals remain unable to secure or maintain meaningful employment.
The findings reveal a perception gap. Only 49% of job seekers felt workplaces reflected their community’s diversity, compared with 72% of employers who believed they did. Researchers identified 20 interconnected factors influencing employment success, reminding us there is no single solution.
What began as an observation by Peter Bailey at Free Rein Associates about Indigenous worker retention has become nationally recognized research shining a light on employment barriers for underrepresented workers in rural and remote communities, while revealing a clear disconnect between job seekers’ experiences and employers’ perceptions.
To me, this is knowledge mobilization at its best: research that sparks dialogue, informs practice, and encourages us to think differently about inclusion and workforce success. Kudos to the research team, and thank you for allowing ASPECT to be part of work that continues to strengthen our sector and improve employment outcomes for the communities we serve.
Don’t forget to check out the podcast.
Janet Morris-Reade, CEO
ASPET BC
