Rural, Remote, & Northern Communities

Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut share similar challenges to workforce development related to their shared Northern, rural, and remote contexts. Current challenges will only grow as sectors increasingly require more digital, leadership, business and administrative, and soft skills. 

This project set in motion a series of initiatives aimed to generate the necessary insights and evidence required to develop a national workforce strategy for the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

As key industries in Nunavut recover from the pandemic, the economy is expected to grow over the next 20 years. However, skills mismatches and other challenges continue to limit the capacity of the resident labour force to satisfy labour market demands.

This project, undertaken for Canada’s Future Skills Centre, drew in various Indigenous, government, and post-secondary partners from Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut. It features a labour market analysis and economic forecast for each region from 2024 to 2045, as well as descriptions of the in-demand skills and key challenges to workforce and skills development in these Northern regions.

Contact North implemented the Northern Entrepreneurs Accessing Training (NEAT) project to improve accessibility to skills training for Indigenous entrepreneurs and their employees.

This project aimed to provide free training to underserved populations and build resilience among workers in the community through skills acquisition in the midst of ongoing economic transformation and uncertainty.

The Doing It Right project, based in the Yukon, sought to address the barriers faced by women and gender-diverse individuals in the skilled trades.

Skilled trades are a priority and among the top occupations in demand in Nunavut, Northern Ontario, and Yukon between 2024 and 2045; meeting this demand remains a persistent concern. Which type of organizations play a key role in sustaining Northern trades? What are the factors that impede Indigenous and Northern students from working in the trades even after they’ve participated in training programs? What plans are in the works that will allow for sustaining training, collaboration, and reduction in duplication in skills development services? Read the impact paper for a look at three programs that are making a difference, and an analysis of more services and approaches that could meet the demand for skilled trades in Canada’s North.

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) | September 24, 2024 Study finds 74% of employers plan to hire in the next three years, with 50% of new hires expected to fill manufacturing/production and laboratory technician roles.