Initiative overview
The AI stream of the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP) was announced in Canada's Budget 2024, allocating CAD 50M over four years (2025–26 to 2028–29) to support workers who may be impacted by AI through new skills training in potentially disrupted sectors and communities. The SWSP itself was originally established in Budget 2021 with CAD 960M over three years and has since invested over CAD 560M across 55 projects, supporting training for over 115,000 participants. The programme is administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and funds not-for-profit organisations, for-profit organisations, municipal governments, Indigenous organisations, and provincial/territorial bodies that have demonstrated knowledge of sectoral skills issues and established partnerships with national, regional, or local sectoral stakeholders. Projects must address workforce development needs in key sectors (agriculture/agri-food, construction, health, ICT, manufacturing, natural resources and environment, tourism, and transportation) and at minimum 10% co-funding from non-ESDC sources is required. The AI stream specifically targets workers facing job displacement or skills gaps due to AI adoption. Eligible activities include training and reskilling, attracting and retaining workforce, developing sector-wide standards and tools, and implementing creative workforce solutions. Funding per project ranges from CAD 5M to CAD 50M. Projects are national (spanning three+ provinces) or regional in scope.
