Research to identify employment trends, skills gaps and impact of emerging technologies on Canadian screen-based industry

Toronto, ON – Women in Film & Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) is pleased to announce that Nordicity and Environics have been commissioned as research partners for WIFT-T’s study of employment trends in Canada’s screen-based media industry.

The study will collect quantitative and qualitative information from all areas of the industry, including film, television and digital media, and will focus on the participation of women and people from culturally-diverse backgrounds. The report will be shared with industry stakeholders and educational institutions nationally.

“The purpose of the study is to make data available to industry decision makers, providing them with a snapshot of the current workforce while identifying future needs, concerns and skills gaps,” says Susan Ross, WIFT-T Industry Study Chair. “Our hope is that this research will drive policy and promote educational programs on a national level.”

Nordicity is a leading international consulting firm that provides economic, strategic and policy analysis, and development services to both public and private clients in the cultural, media, entertainment and ICT industries. The firm has an established record of research and analysis in the film, television and broadcast sectors and, increasingly, in the interactive media sector.

“Nordicity is proud to be associated with the WIFT-T study and hopes to determine what kind of progress has been made in the employment of designated groups,” says Peter Lyman, Nordicity Senior Partner. “As much of our information will be obtained through surveys, we’re hopeful that professionals in the screen-based industry will recognize the significance of this study and feel equally motivated to participate.”

Environics is a full-service firm experienced in conducting surveys, focus groups and interviews, offering clients a broad array of research, consulting and communication services—from traditional public opinion polling and market research to advanced studies of human values and social change.

The research initiative is designed to update WIFT-T’s 2004 groundbreaking study, Frame Work: Employment in Canadian Screen-based Media—A National Profile, which fueled industry-wide dialogue and contributed to policy and programming developments within the sector.

The study is commissioned by Women in Film & Television – Toronto with support from the Foundation for Women in Film & Television – Toronto, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Quebecor Fund, Telefilm Canada, the Canadian Media Production Association and the Directors Guild of Canada – Ontario.

Results will be presented at the WIFT-T International Women in Digital Media Summit, October 23 – 25, 2011 in Stratford, Ontario. A panel discussion of the findings will feature industry experts weighing in on recommendations for policy and program development.

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