Upskill Canada is a national talent platform that helps fast-growing companies access the talent they need to succeed while creating new career pathways for workers to rapidly transition into high-demand roles. It is pan-Canadian in scope, and supports Canadian-based employers, with a particular focus on SMEs in high-growth sectors including digital technology, cyber security, agricultural technology, advanced manufacturing, clean technology and biomanufacturing.

Upskill Canada will fund programs in all regions of the country.

Upskill Canada serves both its participants and Canadian employers, through the program’s delivery and network partners. 

Upskill Canada participants must have at least three years of work or volunteer experience (does not have to be consecutive years), either completed in or outside of Canada. Kindly note that work experience must be outside of full or part-time studies (high school or post-secondary), and all participants must be legally eligible to work in Canada. 

Connecting employers to robust pipelines of qualified talent is the primary purpose of Upskill Canada.  Upskill Canada will support Canadian-based employers, with a particular focus on SMEs, in key growth sectors including digital technology, cyber security, agricultural technology, advanced manufacturing, clean technology and biomanufacturing.

Upskill Canada aims to support Canadian employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in high-growth sectors, to better address their skills needs. It will do so by upskilling mid-career Canadians, including those from underrepresented groups, and helping them connect with new work opportunities in high-growth sectors. Ultimately, Upskill Canada aims to drive lasting improvements to the upskilling ecosystem by building close collaborations across training providers, employers, and other partners to design and deliver upskilling programs and shift mindsets around talent development and utilization.  

Upskill Canada will be distributing funding to qualified delivery partners to design and deliver employer-led upskilling programs. The first step is for prospective delivery partners to register their interest in working with Upskill Canada through our registration portal. Partners will be asked questions during the registration process that will help us stream partners and provide support based on the stage of program development, including accessing funding opportunities.  

The Learning Sandbox is a service provided by Upskill Canada to delivery partners to help them develop capacity to build programs that align with the Palette upskilling model. Through the Sandbox, the insights and best practices of program design that we have developed will be converted into workshops, webinars, tools, and other opportunities to support delivery partners. 

Connecting employers to robust pipelines of qualified talent is the primary purpose of Upskill Canada. To do this, we must also connect the broadest possible network, including industry associations, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, workforce planning boards, employment services, newcomer agencies, as well as training and post-secondary institutes. 

The value of a connected ecosystem will be felt by job seekers who have an easier time finding program opportunities, by employers who know where to go to tap into needed talent, and by organizations, who will be able to connect with a network of like minded organizations looking for opportunities to collaborate and drive impact.