Skilled Trades
Event
Building the Future: How Investing in Tradeswomen Drives Economic Growth
Our December 1 webinar focuses on the practical approaches to keeping tradeswomen in the workforce. Panelists will examine systemic obstacles, highlight proven solutions, and discuss policy frameworks needed to scale impactful programs.
In the Media
Electrification is happening, and these jobs are already hot, industry says
When Laura Tyrrell was a teenager in Alberta, she sometimes accompanied her father on jobs wiring condos.
"I loved it," she recalled. "Going to work with him was fun."
Research
Women in Trades: Progress, Barriers and Opportunities
The research addressed three core questions: What is the current state of women’s participation in skilled trades in Canada? What systemic barriers prevent women from entering, completing and advancing in the trades? And what strategies, domestically and internationally, have shown the most promise in addressing these barriers?
Research
Amped Up: Upskilling Canada's Heavy Duty Vehicle Mechanics to Support the Transition to Electric School Buses
This project examined how heavy-duty diesel mechanics can be effectively upskilled to support the transition to electric school buses.
Research
Supporting Production Workers in the Shift to Electric Vehicles
This project examined how displaced auto workers are experiencing this transition and whether current training and credentialing systems are helping them move into new opportunities.
Research
Immigrants in Canada’s Skilled Trades: Untapped Talent Amid Growing Demand
We conducted a literature review to understand the current representation of immigrants in the skilled trades and the challenges Canada faces in using skilled trades immigrant talent.
Research
Building Tomorrow: Strengthening the Skilled Trades Workforce in Construction
To better understand labour challenges in the construction industry, we interviewed
industry representatives and post secondary education leaders who are directly involved in training and hiring skilled trades workers.
Research
Bridging the AI Skills Gap in Small and Medium-Sized Organizations in Canada
SMEs are at the heart of Canada’s economy, but without targeted supports, they risk being left behind in the AI transition. Addressing adoption gaps is not only about technology, it is also about building skills, confidence, resilience and equity into the future of work.
Research
Building British Columbia’s Mining Workforce
Regional assessments in the Cariboo and Northcoast/Nechako regions have identified logistical barriers to training, including housing shortages, childcare gaps, and geographic isolation. To address these issues, the research proposes a Workforce Development Accelerator Framework.