Economic & Labour Market Development

Qatalyst Research Group provides expert consulting and hands-on support across every aspect of economic and labour market development. With nearly 500 completed assignments for private sector businesses, all levels of government, industry associations, post-secondary institutions, non-profits, and Indigenous organizations, Qatalyst delivers evidence-based strategies and practical solutions that drive measurable change across Canada.

Economic Development Services

Qatalyst’s economic development expertise covers every stage of growth and transformation, tailored to the unique needs of each client and sector.

Our services include:

• Economic Development Strategies: Holistic, actionable roadmaps designed for communities, regions, and industry sectors seeking sustainable growth, diversification, and improved quality of life.
• Investment Attraction: Targeted strategies and promotion plans to draw new businesses, capital, and talent—boosting competitiveness on regional, national, and international levels.
• Impact Assessments: Rigorous economic, social, and community impact evaluations that inform funding, policy, and development decisions.
• Sector Development Studies: Deep dives into emerging and traditional sectors, revealing opportunities, trends, constraints, and required interventions.
• Business Retention & Expansion: Programs that engage directly with local business communities, supporting long-term stability and expansion.
• Business & Regional Benchmarking Studies: Comparative analysis of performance indicators, policy environments, and strategies across regions and industries.
• Feasibility & Business Case Analysis: Detailed assessments to support new investments, infrastructure, and program proposals.
• Policy Analysis & Development: Informed guidance to develop, assess, and implement effective economic policies, incentives, and programs.

Labour Market Services

Qatalyst specializes in labour market analysis, workforce development, and skills planning, equipping clients to respond to rapid changes in local and global job markets.

Our services include:

• Labour Market Studies: Comprehensive analysis of workforce trends, supply/demand gaps, skills needs, and employment challenges.
• Workforce Planning: Collaborative planning to ensure talent pipelines align with future labour market needs for businesses and communities.
• Employer & Employee Surveys: Tailored surveys that reveal strengths, gaps, and opportunities in organizational practices and workforce satisfaction.
• Employer Benchmarking: Comparative studies to identify HR, recruitment, retention, and workforce development practices relative to sector peers.
• Employee Attraction & Retention Strategies: Tactics and programs to draw and keep top talent, promoting organizational effectiveness and sector growth.
• Workforce Development Strategies: Solutions for training, upskilling, and credentialing to meet present and future employer needs.
• Training Program Design & Evaluation: Evidence-based design, implementation, and review of job training, apprenticeship, and continuing education initiatives.
• Employment Tracking & Data Dashboards: Tools to monitor hiring, workforce flows, and progress on strategic workforce initiatives.
• Program & Policy Evaluation: Independent, detailed reviews of workforce interventions to demonstrate impact and value.

Sector and Regional Impact

Qatalyst’s team has contributed to the growth and resilience of sectors including advanced manufacturing, biotech, agriculture, health informatics, medical devices, sustainable energy, ICT, creative industries (arts, new media, fashion, architecture), and more. Work has ranged across all Canadian provinces and territories, with dedicated strategies for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and the Atlantic provinces.

Our methodologies emphasize stakeholder consultation and engagement. We have designed and implemented large-scale surveys, focus groups, and interviews with businesses, Indigenous governments, community organizations, and industry leaders.