The forecasted total hours worked in medium-high R&D intensive activities in Canada is projected to progressively increase from 2024 to 2028, starting at 1.83 billion hours in 2024 and reaching 1.91 billion hours by 2028. Given that the hours worked in 2023 formed the baseline, this growth indicates a steady annual increase. The year-on-year variation is consistently around 1.1%, suggesting a stable upward trend with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 1.1% over the five-year forecast period.

Future trends to watch for include:

Potential impacts of emerging technologies that may further increase productivity or shift labor demands in R&D sectors.
Economic or policy changes affecting investment in R&D, which could alter projected trends.
Global competitiveness and partnerships influencing Canada's R&D focus and hours worked.