The federal government is preparing to spend billions training 100,000 skilled workers under its Team Canada Strong agenda, without a clear plan for the economy those workers are meant to serve.
Instead, Canada should align workforce planning, funding and training with the industries driving future growth.
The global economy won’t wait for Canada to catch up. Countries are competing to lead in the industries that will define the next decade, from electric vehicle supply chains and battery production to critical minerals, low-carbon building materials and modern electricity systems. China already dominates battery manufacturing and critical mineral supply chains; the European Union is aligning industrial policy with electrification and energy security goals. These countries are building the workforce capacity required to support those industries.
Canada, meanwhile, is not.
In the construction and building skilled trades alone, the transition to a net-zero economy could support 350,000 ongoing jobs in Canada between now and 2050. Globally, the electricity sector is now the largest energy employer, outpacing fossil fuels — and EV-related jobs grew by nearly 800,000 last year. In China, nearly 40 per cent of vehicle manufacturing jobs are now tied to EVs and batteries.
Meanwhile, in Canada, Imperial Oil is cutting 20 per cent of its workforce by 2027 — a continuation of a trend of oil and gas jobs stagnating even as production and profits reach record levels.
The national electricity strategy aims to double grid capacity, modernize infrastructure and deliver cheaper, more reliable electricity. These are the right goals. But none of it happens without people who can build, operate and maintain it.
And if we don’t secure these jobs, they will go elsewhere, along with the investments behind them.
This $6 billion workforce investment comes as the economy is shifting, but training more workers only strengthens the economy if those workers are prepared for the sectors driving future growth and demand is rapidly shifting toward electrification, clean manufacturing and major electricity infrastructure. If Canada fails to target its investment correctly, it will lock in a mismatch between skills and demand, at public expense.
Electricians, welders, crane operators and heavy equipment technicians will still be essential. Electricians will increasingly install EV charging stations and connect grid-scale renewable energy projects. Welders will shift toward clean energy manufacturing and smart grid systems. Heavy equipment technicians will need to know electric-powered machinery. Canada will need to train and certify more than 264,000 additional apprentices by 2034 to meet labour demand linked to the transition to a net-zero economy. The trades are being redirected, and workforce policy needs to get ahead of that, not trail behind it.
So, how do we course-correct?
Firstly, clearer labour market forecasts for the clean economy will be needed to get things right. Governments, colleges, industry and unions need a shared view of where demand is heading. Training dollars should follow those signals and target sectors facing the strongest long-term growth, not be spread broadly across the trades as though every occupation faces the same future.
Second, colleges and training centres need clear signals now to expand specialized programs and apprenticeship capacity. Delays will only exacerbate labour shortages later.
Finally, these must be good jobs. Workers will not enter or stay in these sectors without fair wages, strong labour standards and long-term stability. If Canada wants workers to build a clean economy, it needs to set clear expectations and support, so these sectors offer careers worth building a life around.
This $6-billion investment will be evaluated on its contribution to building the workforce required for a competitive, clean economy. The early signs will be obvious: expanded electrification training, larger apprenticeship pipelines tied to clean industry projects and workforce plans directly connected to industrial policy. If those do not appear quickly, Canada will have failed to match training with economic reality.
If Team Canada Strong is going to mean anything, workforce policy must be tied directly to industries that will define Canada’s competitiveness. Otherwise, this will be another missed opportunity to build the future Canadian economy.
