The world is changing fast, and Canada's advanced manufacturing sector is facing increasing workforce challenges from tariffs, skills shortages, supply chain disruptions and a workplace being reshaped by artificial intelligence[DA1] [WM2] . Meanwhile, lagging productivity and mounting global competition continue to weigh on the sector's long-term growth and competitiveness. To address these challenges, the Government of Canada is focusing on what it can control. The Government is taking a coordinated approach to strengthening critical sectors that are essential to Canada's economic security and growth, and to building a strong Canadian economy that benefits everyone.
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, announced the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance, alongside Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium and the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition. This new alliance will identify and advance solutions to bolster the skilled workforce needed across Canada's advanced manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing is a key pillar of Canada's economy, driving growth and innovation across sectors such as automotive, steel, aerospace, and clean technology. Today, the manufacturing sector is increasingly shaped by automation, robotics and artificial intelligence-enabled systems.
The Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance will help the sector build the skilled workforce it needs to improve productivity, adopt new technologies and remain competitive globally. This alliance brings together manufacturers, unions, education and training institutions, industry associations, Indigenous partners, and underrepresented groups. These partners will work together to identify workforce gaps and support practical training solutions. Together, these efforts will help Canadian workers prepare for new opportunities and adapt as the sector's needs evolve.
The Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance is the second of six sector‑focused Workforce Alliances to be established. The first was the Mining and Minerals Workforce Alliance, launched on June 4, 2026. All six Workforce Alliances will focus on priority areas essential to Canada's economic growth, working to address labour market challenges and coordinate public and private investments in skills development. These efforts will help workers gain the in-demand skills they need, while giving employers access to the talent they need to Build Canada Strong.
