The Future Skills Centre (FSC) is investing $14.3 million to expand 13 workforce training initiatives, aiming to equip more Canadians with skills to navigate economic shifts driven by technology, climate change, and labour market demands.
The funding will support upskilling programs for autoworkers transitioning to electric vehicle production, AI literacy training for healthcare workers, and targeted job support for newcomers. It will also increase training opportunities for Indigenous workers in Canada’s North and expand skills development programs for employees in small and medium-sized enterprises, including the food processing and biotechnology industries.
“Canada’s skills and workforce planning can’t be left to chance,” said Noel Baldwin, executive director of the Future Skills Centre. “We need long-term commitments to skills development from all levels of government, employers, labour, education, and employment services. This investment will help us expand proven solutions to reach more people in more regions.”
The initiative comes amid concerns over workforce adaptability, with 43 per cent of Canadian workers reporting they received no skills training in the past year, according to FSC’s Survey on Employment and Skills. The funding aims to address these gaps by expanding access to training programs focused on labour mobility and economic inclusion.
“The steps Canada takes to support its workers and key sectors today will determine our prosperity tomorrow,” said Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon. “By expanding promising skills training projects, we’re taking a step in this direction, bringing resilience to our workforce and our economy.”
Since its inception, FSC has invested $284 million in skills development research and pilot projects, benefiting more than 99,000 workers through hands-on training and job opportunities. The centre, funded by the federal government, collaborates with policymakers, researchers, employers, and labour groups to develop evidence-based solutions for Canada’s evolving labour market.
