Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu announced the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance (AMWA) on Monday, a new initiative to bolster the skilled workforce needed across Canada’s advanced manufacturing sector.
Hajdu says the AMWA is aimed at helping the manufacturing sector develop a skilled labour force to embrace emerging technologies, such as robotics and artificial intelligence, and remain competitive in global markets.
According to a federal government news release, the AMWA will bring together a range of partners, including:
- Manufacturers
- Labour organizations
- Educational and training institutions
- Industry groups
- Indigenous partners
- Representatives from underrepresented communities
Hajdu says these partners plan to work collaboratively in order to identify workforce shortages and develop practical training initiatives to address them.
“The Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance will help empower Canadian workers with the skills they need to adapt and grow, playing a crucial role in building a strong, independent and resilient economy,” Hajdu said.
The effort is intended to equip Canadian workers with the skills needed to take advantage of new career opportunities and adapt to the changing demands of the manufacturing industry.
“The manufacturing sector and its workforce face many challenges, including intense international competition, instability in cross-border trade arrangements, changing demographics, and rapidly developing technological changes that both create economic activity and disrupt the workforce,” said Ken Delaney, Executive Director of the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition. “Working collaboratively with employers, unions, training institutions, diversity groups and governments through the new Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance will help the sector and its workforce respond to these challenges.”
The AMWA is the second of six industry-specific Workforce Alliances planned by the federal government. The first, the Mining and Minerals Workforce Alliance, was launched in June 2026.
According to the federal government, all six Workforce Alliances will target key growth sectors, addressing workforce needs and supporting investment in skills training.
