Canada’s Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu unveils six new Workforce Alliances to strengthen worker training and protect jobs during economic pressure in Windsor Ontario

Economic pressure is no longer an abstract concept for Canadian workers — it’s showing up in factories, construction sites, and supply chains.

Tariffs are tightening margins, skills shortages are slowing growth, and global disruptions are forcing industries to rethink how they operate.

Against that backdrop, the federal government is leaning into what it says it can control: strengthening domestic industries and making sure workers aren’t left behind as the economy shifts.

That message took center stage in Windsor this week, where the federal government outlined new steps aimed squarely at job security, retraining, and long-term resilience.

Minister Hajdu takes the message straight to workers in Windsor

Speaking during a visit to Unifor Local 444 in Windsor, Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for Employment and Social Development Canada, announced a slate of initiatives designed to help workers and employers ride out today’s turbulence — while also preparing for tomorrow’s labour demands.

The setting was deliberate. Windsor sits at the heart of Canada’s auto and advanced manufacturing sector, an industry facing rapid technological change and uncertainty tied to global trade dynamics.

Six Workforce Alliances aim to fix labour bottlenecks before they grow

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a new Workforce Alliance focused on Advanced Manufacturing. Hajdu confirmed that effort is just the beginning.

Five additional Workforce Alliances are now being formed in sectors that touch daily life for Canadians:

Housing and construction, transportation and supply chains, energy and electricity, mining and critical minerals, and the care economy.

The idea is simple but ambitious: bring governments, employers, unions, educators, industry groups, and Indigenous partners to the same table to identify where labour shortages are most acute — and then coordinate training and investment to fix them.

Officials say the goal isn’t short-term patchwork, but durable workforce pipelines that support long-term growth.

Training the next generation of auto and manufacturing workers

While in Windsor, Hajdu met directly with advanced manufacturing stakeholders from the auto sector.

Discussions focused on how training programs can keep pace with evolving technology, from electrification to automation.

Canada’s auto industry has already undergone significant transformation over the past decade, and experts warn that without sustained investment in skills development, workers could struggle to keep up with new production methods.

The Workforce Alliances are intended to prevent that gap from widening.

A new Worker Retention Grant offers breathing room for employees

Alongside the alliance announcements, Hajdu revealed that applications are now open for a new Worker Retention Grant for employers participating in the federal Work-Sharing program.

Backed by a roughly $102.7 million investment over two years, the grant builds on an existing system that allows companies to reduce hours instead of laying people off — with workers receiving Employment Insurance support for lost time.

The new top-up goes further, helping employees train during reduced hours while maintaining up to 70% of their usual full-time income.

For workers facing uncertainty, that combination of income stability and retraining could be the difference between staying employed and falling out of the labour market altogether.

Job Bank steps in to simplify retraining choices

To make upskilling less overwhelming, Job Bank has launched a dedicated section for Work-Sharing employers.

It includes a new Training Finder and links to thousands of courses, many of them low-cost or free.

The move reflects a growing recognition that workers often want to retrain — but struggle to navigate the maze of available programs.

Centralizing those options could speed up transitions into in-demand roles.

A broader $570 million push to support displaced workers

These announcements sit within a larger federal commitment.

Through labour market agreements with provinces and territories, the Government of Canada is investing $570 million to provide employment assistance and reskilling support for up to 66,000 workers nationwide, including displaced auto workers.

Officials say the funding builds on earlier efforts to modernize strategic industries and reduce dependence on fragile global supply chains.

What’s next?

Over the coming weeks, the federal government will finalize leadership teams and priorities for all six Workforce Alliances after consultations with employers, unions, educators, industry associations, and Indigenous partners.

Once those structures are in place, attention will shift to rolling out targeted training programs and tracking whether investments are translating into real jobs.

The success of these measures will likely be judged not by announcements, but by whether workers feel more secure — and better prepared — a year from now.

Summary

Facing mounting economic pressure, the federal government has rolled out a coordinated plan to protect workers and future-proof Canada’s labour market.

From six new Workforce Alliances to a Worker Retention Grant that supports retraining during reduced hours, the focus is on keeping people employed while building skills for tomorrow.

The coming months will show whether this strategy can turn policy into lasting opportunity for Canadian workers.