Writing and Publishing

Background

The CHRC traveled across the country in 2003/04 to meet with Book Publishers to better understand the human resource issues that they are facing. The findings of these meetings were confirmed in a Survey on Succession Planning of Owners of Publishing Companies by the Department of Canadian Heritage which revealed a serious succession problem looming on the horizon.

CHRC decided to develop a competency chart and profile for Book Publishers, and a training gaps analysis, to assist in addressing this problem from the education/training perspective. CHRC established a national Steering Committee for Book Publishers to guide the process. This committee includes publishers, educators, editors and writers. An Expert Working Group of practising Book Publishers was created to undertake the occupational analysis.

Based on the competency chart and profile, a training gaps analysis was carried out to determine what the skills gaps are for workers in the book publishing industry and what training is available to fill those gaps.