Less than two months being named a delivery partner for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s $250 million Upskilling for Industry Initiative fund, Palette Skills has launched Upskill Canada.
Upskill Canada is a national talent platform that will help fast-growing companies access the talent they need to succeed and create new career pathways for workers to rapidly transition into high-demand roles.
The Upskilling for Industry Initiative fund expects to help more than 15,000 Canadian workers, including those from under-represented groups, transition into new jobs in high-growth sectors such as digital technology, cybersecurity, agriculture technology, advanced manufacturing, clean technology and biomanufacturing.
“Palette Skills’ core competencies as an organization are to develop best practices in employer-led program design that leads to job placement, and to connect with diverse sets of partners across the ecosystem to deliver these programs”, said Rhonda Barnet, CEO of Palette Skills.
“Through Upskill Canada, we now have the opportunity to scale this work across the country.”
Upskill Canada will connect employers operating in key growth sectors, including digital technology, cyber security, agricultural technology, advanced manufacturing, clean technology and biomanufacturing, to qualified talent to fill high-demand roles, with the target outcome being job placement.
It will be pan-Canadian in scope, and support Canadian-based employers, with a particular focus on small and medium businesses (SMEs) in high-growth sectors, to better address their skills needs.
“Canada’s workforce is the backbone of our economy. As new, high-growth sectors emerge, we need to ensure workers can gain the necessary skills that align with the needs of modern employers,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
“That’s why we are partnering with Palette Skills, whose new Upskill Canada portal announced today will put our vision into action. No worker will be left behind.”
Upskill Canada will target mid-career Canadians, including those from underrepresented groups, and help them connect with new work opportunities in high-growth sectors.
Ultimately, Upskill Canada will drive lasting improvements to the upskilling ecosystem by catalyzing close collaborations across training providers, employers, and other partners to design and deliver upskilling programs and shift mindsets around talent development and utilization.