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Recruitment strategy targets skilled trades shortage in Atlantic Canada

The need to increase the number of skilled tradespeople in Atlantic Canada’s construction sector has never been greater. The Construction Association of Prince Edward Island (CAPEI) is collaborating with the Government of Canada and partners across the region to develop and implement a recruitment and retention strategy. This initiative will identify the immediate industry needs and provide comprehensive solutions to address critical workforce shortages and help meet the need to build more housing.

Today, Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), announced a non-repayable contribution of $210,000 from ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program to help grow the construction workforce in Atlantic Canada.

“The message is clear: we need to build more houses, and we need more people with the skills to build them. This initiative will help recruit the right people for the right jobs so we can meet the housing needs of Atlantic Canadians – and that’s good news for everyone,” said  Hutchings.

This investment will help CAPEI develop and implement an immigration strategy that will connect Atlantic Canadian construction companies to immigration expertise services, actively engage qualified workers at international recruitment events, and provide companies with integration training and support. This initiative is expected to help accelerate hiring of skilled workers for in-demand positions in the construction sector throughout the region.

Prince Edward Island, through Skills PEI, is also contributing $160,000 toward CAPEI’s development of a human resource plan in collaboration with P.E.I. construction employers. The plan will identify immediate workforce shortages and the key occupations that are needed to grow the construction sector.