Shape the Future of Skills: Participate in the 2026 Global Industry Skills Study

Generation1.ca is pleased to return with the 2026 wave of our Global Industry Skills Study, our 5-minute annual survey initiative examining the evolving relationship between employers, talent, skills, and workforce inclusion across the research, data, analytics, and insights ecosystem led by our CEO to foster, retain, enhance and upskill talent pipelines into data powered sectors among others. As artificial intelligence, automation, demographic shifts, and global mobility continue to transform work, organizations face an urgent question: What skills will define success in the future workforce? The study seeks to identify the skills employers need, the supports workplaces provide, and the barriers diverse talent face, generating evidence to strengthen workforce readiness and immigrant integration across North America.

Why This Study Matters

The future of work is increasingly data-driven, global, and interdisciplinary. Organizations are navigating rapid technological change while simultaneously addressing talent shortages, evolving employee expectations, and the need to build more inclusive and resilient workforces.

At the same time, newcomers, internationally trained professionals, and diverse talent bring valuable expertise and perspectives but often encounter barriers to workforce participation and advancement.

The 2026 Global Industry Skills Study aims to bridge these realities by providing actionable evidence that can inform employers, educators, policymakers, associations, and workforce development initiatives.

What We Hope to Learn

Through this study, we seek to:

• Identify the skills, competencies, and capabilities employers value most when hiring for research, data, analytics, and insights roles.
• Understand current and future talent needs within the workforce pipeline.
• Assess employer perceptions of workforce readiness among emerging, internationally trained, and diverse talent.
• Evaluate the workplace supports and development opportunities organizations provide to attract, retain, and advance multicultural and transnational talent.
• Identify barriers and opportunities for strengthening workforce participation and integration, particularly for immigrants, newcomers, and globally experienced professionals.

How the Findings Will Be Used

The results will help shape Generation1.ca’s workforce development initiatives, including the Future Ready Innovators Credential, while informing broader conversations around talent, skills, inclusion, and workforce readiness across North America.

Findings will also support employers, educational institutions, professional associations, and community organizations seeking to build stronger pathways into careers in research, data, analytics, and insights.

We Need Your Voice

If you are an employer, hiring manager, team leader, executive, entrepreneur, or industry professional whose work relies on data, analytics, research, insights, or evidence-based decision-making, we invite you to participate. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete, and your responses will help shape future talent pipelines, workforce development strategies, and opportunities for newcomers and emerging professionals. All responses will remain confidential and will be reported only in aggregate form in accordance with applicable privacy laws and industry standards.

Help shape the future of skills, talent, and workforce integration across North America.

Click here to begin the 2026 Global Industry Skills Study for Employers.

For any questions about the study, please contact Arundati Dandapani, Founder and CEO of Generation1.ca, at arundati@generation1.ca.

To check out the report on recent past waves, visit this report, which also features regular coverage on Market Research Institute International (MRII). To access the PDF on the 2025 wave, see below.