Ottawa, March 22, 2025 – The Europe Today: As the global push for decarbonization gains momentum, the demand for skilled tradespeople is evolving in response to energy efficiency and sustainability requirements in construction and other industries. Recognizing the need for specialized training, the Government of Canada has announced a significant investment aimed at preparing workers for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Minister of Jobs and Families Steven MacKinnon has revealed that the federal government will allocate more than $67 million to support 10 union-led projects designed to train nearly 30,000 tradespeople in green skills. This funding, part of the Sustainable Jobs funding stream under the Union Training and Innovation Program, will be disbursed between 2025 and 2030. The initiative aligns with Canada’s broader strategy to equip workers with the expertise necessary for a net-zero economy.
Supporting Workforce Transition to a Greener Economy
The investment addresses critical workforce challenges, including reducing barriers to entry into the trades and supporting the completion of apprenticeships. It also complements Canada’s housing strategy, which aims to construct millions of energy-efficient homes requiring highly skilled labor.
“Just as entire sectors are changing, so too should our workforce,” MacKinnon stated. “Today’s more than $67-million investment in the jobs, sectors, and opportunities of tomorrow underscores this change and the work we are doing to help train 29,300 tradespeople with the green skills they need to help Canada not only get ahead of this green shift but stay there too.”
Sean Strickland, Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions, emphasized the importance of unionized workers in spearheading the transition to clean energy employment. “This investment ensures Canada’s tradespeople will have the skills to meet the moment as we transition to a cleaner, greener economy,” he said. “The projects supported through this funding will ensure well-paid, unionized, skilled tradespeople lead the way on clean economic growth, and ensure Canada can seize the once-in-a-generation opportunity to gain a competitive edge in the global race for clean economy investments.”
Addressing Workforce Demand and Housing Needs
The demand for tradespeople with green skills is increasing across industries such as low-carbon construction, clean energy deployment, and zero-emission vehicle production. Specialized expertise in energy-efficient building techniques is now a necessity for home retrofits and new construction projects.
Beyond this latest investment, the Canadian government provides nearly $1 billion annually for apprenticeship support, including loans, tax credits, and Employment Insurance benefits for in-school training. Programs such as the Red Seal Program help standardize trades training nationwide.
In addition, Budget 2024 committed $90 million to the Apprenticeship Service to assist small and medium-sized businesses in hiring apprentices, and $10 million for the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program, designed to encourage more Canadians to consider careers in the trades.
With Canada targeting 3.87 million new homes by 2031—including 2 million net new homes through federal initiatives—ensuring a well-trained workforce is a top priority. This investment underscores the pivotal role of tradespeople in shaping Canada’s economic and environmental future, equipping them with the skills to build not only homes but a sustainable future for the workforce.
