FAQ's
What is the Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council (CPISC)?
The Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council (CPISC) is a national forum that collaborates with printing and graphic communications industry employers, employees, educators, suppliers and representatives of governments to create and implement innovative strategies for skills development and progressive HR management practices. In doing so, CPISC enables all key players in the printing and graphic communications industry to work together in partnership to improve the quality of the industry’s current and future workforce.
How is the CPISC funded?
As part of the federal government's sectoral partnerships initiative, CPISC receives core and project specific funding from the Canadian government. CPISC is also supported by industry through in-kind contributions and participation in its activities.
What are CPISC's objectives?
CPISC’s mission is to assist employees and employers in the Canadian printing and graphic communications industry in developing and maintaining a skilled workforce and progressive human resource management in order to maximize the career potential of every employee and to support the industry’s prosperity.
CPISC has identified four key long-term objectives that describe the behaviours that the Council would like to influence and see exhibited by the industry in the coming years. These outcomes are that the industry:
- has skilled workers with transferable skills
- retains existing workers and recruits new workers
- adopts strategic HR management and best practice
- takes coordinated action on common HR issues
To achieve these objectives, CPISC is focusing on goals and activities in four key areas: skills, training, career pathways and HR management which includes the provision of timely and informative data on the industry.
What are some of the challenges facing the printing industry?
The printing and graphic communications industry today is one in transition. Globalization has brought increased threats from off-shore competitors. Consolidation and restructuring of business practices, declining revenues and increased pressure on profit margins are all having an impact.
In addition to challenges posed by changing technologies, all print companies need to cope with an aging workforce, too few training opportunities for new and existing workers, and a lack of awareness among young people and other job seekers about the career possibilities in the printing and graphic communications industry.
What is a sector council?
Sector councils are industry-led partnership organizations that address skills development issues in key sectors of the economy.
Sector councils work as a uniting element to engage business, workers, educators, professional associations and government in a strategic alliance that is focused on determining the specific skills and human resource needs that will enable the sector to thrive.
There are currently 34 sector councils operating within the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program involving more than half of Canada 's labour market.
