TORONTO, ON, June 5, 2025 – Knockri, Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) and Dr. Piers Steel are partnering to solve a growing problem: the soft skills gap in Canada. Together we’re building an AI-driven platform that gives early-career professionals access to automated, individualized soft skills assessments, both before and after work-integrated learning (WIL) programs.
This project is one of 16 workforce innovation initiatives announced as part of DIGITAL’s $15 million investment into Canadian talent development. Funded by the federal government through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), DIGITAL is one of Canada’s five Global Innovation Clusters. Over 3,000 people will benefit from these programs, with a strong focus on equity-deserving groups and sectors experiencing fast growth and digital transformation including clean energy, cybersecurity, healthcare, aquaculture, and manufacturing.
Knockri’s Role: AI Platform for Non-Technical Skills
Knockri is leading the development of an AI-driven platform that delivers high-quality, personalized feedback on non-technical skills (NTS) assessments at scale. Leveraging BHER’s extensive network of post-secondary institutions and deep experience with work-integrated learning programs, the platform will help graduating students across Canada enhance their readiness for the workforce. Dr. Piers Steel will conduct publishable research to validate the platform’s effectiveness in improving early-career NTS and employability, ensuring a strong evidence base for its impact.
This initiative will help bridge the gap between academic training and industry needs. It will also improve productivity while supporting a more skilled and adaptable Canadian workforce, contributing to broader economic and social well-being.
Here’s how the system works:
- Pre-program assessment
Before entering a WIL experience, early-career professionals complete our AI-powered soft skills assessment. This establishes a clear baseline. - AI analysis and personalized feedback
Our machine learning model analyzes candidates’ responses based on the core competencies required for success in real-world roles. Then, generative AI delivers tailored feedback and actionable improvement steps in key areas like communication, adaptability, decision-making, and collaboration. These recommendations are compiled into a personalized development plan to support each learner’s growth before they enter the workplace. - Real-world application
Participants put their personalized development plans provided by Knockri into practice through programs run by over 10,000 employers and 200 post-secondary institutions across Canada. - Post-program evaluation
After the WIL placement, learners retake the assessment to measure growth and reflect on how their skills have evolved.
Why It Matters
Canadian employers consistently identify a critical gap: while technical skills can be taught, soft skills, like teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking, are often underdeveloped and under-measured. As skills-first hiring gains momentum, the need for objective, scalable soft skills assessment tools become even more urgent.
Our work, funded in part by DIGITAL, directly addresses this challenge. Together, we’re creating a fair and data-driven platform that supports personal development, practical learning, and long-term career success. It’s a meaningful step forward in closing Canada’s soft skills gap and in helping to build a more equitable and future-ready workforce.
Curious how we can help your organization close the soft skills gap and build a stronger team? We’d love to talk!