Paid Opportunities for Young Canadians
One of the first measures is the new Team Canada Strong Youth Placements program.
Under the program, organizations will connect young Canadians with paid opportunities in the skilled trades. Beginning in early 2027, young Canadians will be able to access paid job placements lasting up to four months.
The placements are intended to give participants hands-on experience while allowing them to explore careers in skilled trades.
The program is backed by C$880 million over five years.
Organizations interested in delivering the program can submit an Expression of Interest to the federal government until October 23.
C$5,000 Completion Bonus for Eligible Tradespeople
Another measure focuses on people already completing apprenticeships.
Tradespeople who complete an apprenticeship and earn certification in an eligible Red Seal trade designated by their province or territory will be able to apply for a C$5,000 completion bonus later this fall.
The measure also covers eligible tradespeople who received their certification on or after April 1, 2025.
Employers Could Receive Up to C$10,000
The federal government is also preparing to launch the Build Canada Apprenticeship Service later this fall.
The program will help connect apprentices with jobs at small and medium-sized employers.
Employers that hire a first-year apprentice in an eligible Red Seal trade can receive up to C$10,000 to support hiring and help apprentices continue their training.
The service will also provide support intended to help apprentices overcome barriers and complete their apprenticeship training.
More Support During Technical Training
Another planned measure is the Apprenticeship Training Grant, which is expected to launch in spring 2027.
Eligible apprentices attending mandatory in-class technical training will receive a C$400 weekly top-up in addition to Employment Insurance.
The government says the support is intended to reduce financial pressure during technical training and help apprentices complete their programs before moving into permanent employment.
The grant will apply to eligible weeks of technical training beginning on or after January 3, 2027.
C$2 Billion for Provincial and Territorial Training
Team Canada Strong also includes funding for provinces and territories.
The federal government says discussions are underway on bilateral agreements that will provide C$2 billion in federal funding to expand access to pre-apprenticeship and technical training.
The funding is intended to help provinces and territories create additional training and apprenticeship opportunities while better aligning workforce development with local labour-market needs.
Why Skilled Trades Are a Major Focus
The federal government says Canada will have more than 1.4 million job openings in the skilled trades between 2024 and 2033.
These jobs will be connected to areas including homebuilding, transit and energy infrastructure.
The new programs are being introduced as Canada prepares for continued demand for workers across construction and other skilled-trades sectors.
Team Canada Strong is intended to support people at different stages, from young Canadians exploring trades to apprentices completing technical training and experienced workers earning Red Seal certification.
What Young Workers Should Know
For young Canadians considering a skilled-trades career, the first major opportunity under the new plan is the Youth Placements program.
Paid placements are expected to begin in early 2027, while organizations interested in delivering the program can submit an Expression of Interest until October 23.
People pursuing apprenticeships can also look toward the upcoming Build Canada Apprenticeship Service and Apprenticeship Training Grant, while eligible certified tradespeople may be able to apply for the C$5,000 completion bonus.
The Bigger Team Canada Strong Plan
The skilled-trades measures are part of a broader C$8 billion Team Canada Strong investment.
Alongside the new measures, Canada already provides nearly C$1 billion annually in apprenticeship support through loans, project funding, tax credits and deductions, Employment Insurance benefits and support for the Red Seal Program.
For workers and employers, the newly announced programs add another layer of financial and training support as Canada prepares for future skilled-trades demand.