Pedro Barata takes the helm of the Future Skills Centre in September, filling the executive director role that’s been vacant since the organization launched in February. 

Barata is tasked with closing Canada’s skills gap, which is no small feat. Despite record job growth of late, 20 per cent of Canadians are doing precarious work, contributing to low wages and widening income inequality.

In its seven months, the government-funded Future Skills Centre has pledged $19 million—of its $375-million total budget—for 16 pilot projects that will study underemployment and test mid-career training programs.