Organizations have until March 18 to apply for funding under new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program
January 31, 2022 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
Whether it's rebuilding from the COVID-19 pandemic or driving the clean economy of the future, workers will always be at the heart of Canada's success. By supporting Canadian workers in gaining the skills they need for in-demand jobs we not only help employers in key sectors fill critical shortages, we set the entire economy up to thrive.
That is why today Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, launched a call for proposals for projects that will help connect thousands of Canadians with the training they need to access good jobs in in-demand sectors. Priority will be placed on projects that support underrepresented groups, including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, racialized Canadians, newcomers, and LGBTQ2 Canadians, and will also promote a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Projects will be funded under three priority areas:
- Building talent for the clean economy: to support workforce development needs in sectors that contribute to the low carbon economy, protect the environment, oceanic or aquatic ecosystems, and/or manage natural resources.
- Supporting demand-driven solutions for sectors hardest hit by the pandemic and those key to recovery: to support activities that can be launched quickly to address the changing labour supply, skills and employment needs of workers and employers hardest hit by the pandemic.
- Investing in the health care sector: to address the challenges faced by in-demand health care occupations, including skills and labour shortages, labour mobility, workforce mental health needs and integration of internationally trained health care professionals.
Under the call for proposals, successful projects will include at least one of the following eligible activities:
- Training and reskilling to help workers gain skills for the changing needs of industries, including helping workers seize opportunities for in-demand jobs in growing sectors;
- Providing solutions for employers to develop a skilled and resilient workforce and workplace;
- Offering creative solutions to develop and implement new ways of addressing labour market issues in key sectors and/or occupations; and
- Establishing sector-wide standards and tools to help all stakeholders identify and address specific skills, needs and trends.
First announced in Budget 2021, the SWSP builds on the success of the Sectoral Initiatives Program, with an expanded scope for large-scale projects that offer a broader range of supports to train workers and help employers, especially from small and medium-sized businesses, develop practical and effective solutions.
