Every critical mineral project, from mine to processing plant, is a clean energy project. And every worker on those projects is part of Canada’s clean energy workforce.
Canada has all the pieces to become a global leader in critical minerals, the essential resources powering everything from electric vehicle batteries and semiconductors to the clean technologies driving electrification and a low-carbon economy. With abundant resources, strong innovation capacity, and a skilled workforce, the opportunity is clear. The challenge is aligning, scaling, and co-ordinating these strengths. If the federal government and industry plan workforce development in step with projects, Canada can secure supply chains for allies while creating thousands of jobs in the clean energy economy, building northern infrastructure, and strengthening Indigenous participation, turning ambition into lasting economic and strategic advantage.
Over the past year, the federal government has made critical minerals a central pillar of economic and geopolitical strategy, aiming to establish Canada as a vital, secure, and sustainable supplier capable of delivering projects reliably and at scale. Through G7 leadership and the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, Canada is mobilizing projects, partnerships, and financing to strengthen supply chains with allied countries, and reduce reliance on concentrated supply sources.
Global demand for critical minerals has already surged over the past decade, driven by the rapid growth of clean technologies. That growth is only accelerating. Demand for critical minerals used in clean technologies is expected to nearly double by 2030 and triple by 2040 as countries electrify transportation, expand renewable energy, and build low-carbon infrastructure. Canada has the resources, governance standards, and innovation capacity to lead. Expanding production could attract upstream processing and refining investment, taking Canada beyond a raw material exporter. By building capacity at home, the country can create jobs across supply chains, uplift northern and Indigenous communities through rights-based partnerships and equity sharing, and deliver tangible economic benefits locally, all while strengthening its role in global supply chains. It is a significant opportunity to diversify global economic relationships, and open new markets.
Turning this moment into reality is fundamentally a question of people. Building a workforce for critical minerals is simultaneously building Canada’s clean energy workforce. The people who extract, process, and refine these materials make electrification and clean energy deployment possible.
However, Canada already faces persistent labour shortages in mining and related sectors. Workforce challenges range from an aging labour force and declining enrolment in mining-related programs to barriers to participation, including health and safety concerns, workplace discrimination, and the remote locations of many projects. As critical mineral development accelerates, these pressures will intensify, creating competition for skilled tradespeople and technical workers across mining, construction, manufacturing, and energy sectors.
Without parallel workforce planning, Canada risks falling short of its ambitions. Countries looking to diversify their mineral suppliers need to know projects will be delivered on time, at scale and safely with a skilled and ready workforce. Strategies that support recruitment, local training and hiring, and retention of workers, can help meet the environmental, social, and governance standards that trade partners look for in sustainable suppliers. Workforce readiness is therefore a core component of a critical minerals industrial strategy.
The good news is that Canada is not starting from zero. Collaborative training initiatives, Indigenous-led workforce development and partnerships between industry, labour and education are already showing what is possible when workforce strategies align with sector needs. Scaling these efforts and linking them directly to project pipelines will be critical to ensure they match the scale of Canada’s ambitions.
Canada has a clear window to become a leader in the global critical mineral sector. Workforce capacity, planning, and alignment will determine whether Canada turns ambition into reality, creates sustainable jobs, and secures its position as a trusted supplier to the world.
