Across the world, a changing global economy is reshaping local job markets and raising key policy questions: How can workers, sectors and regions adapt? And how can workers build skills for long-term employment while staying in, or close to, their communities?

Economic, technological and demographic shifts affect each community differently. Some communities will feel the impacts sooner and more sharply — especially smaller, rural or remote areas with high employment in susceptible sectors and less diverse economies.

This joint IRPP–Future Skills Centre research project looks outward to international experiences with net-zero transitions that could be applicable to Canada. It reviews initiatives from Australia, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States that use place‑based approaches to skills training and workforce development. These approaches help people gain future-ready skills and access quality jobs without leaving their communities.

Viewed together, these case studies can inform Canadian approaches to building workforce and community resilience in a rapidly shifting landscape. The cases highlight design choices and strategies that can be adapted to Canadian institutions and labour markets.