Enhanced direct-entry apprenticeship program to serve at least 200 new apprentices
Nova Scotia is committing $10 million to get more people working in the province’s construction industry.
“Nova Scotia needs more skilled trades professionals to support our growing economy and to build the homes, schools and hospitals we need,” said Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “By working with industry leaders, this investment will encourage more people to explore the skilled trades, train more people and connect them with good careers in construction.”
The funding will help prepare more people in the province to acquire the skills necessary for building a career in the industry.
As part of this initiative, Nova Scotia is establishing the Cape Breton Trades Exhibition Centre – an industry-led, hands-on exploration and learning facility for youth, community groups, and apprentices. The centre will feature interactive booths, training classrooms, and a testing facility aimed at enhancing trades education for thousands of Nova Scotians, according to the provincial government.
It will be the second facility of its kind in the province, complementing the existing centre in Halifax. Additionally, Nova Scotia currently operates two mobile training centres and one mobile construction experience.
The province is also expanding its enhanced direct-entry apprenticeship programs, making them more accessible as pathways into the skilled trades.
To further support career transitions, new programs will be created for underemployed individuals, veterans, and new Canadians, helping them gain or enhance the skills needed to thrive in the skilled trades.
An industry-led steering committee will oversee project implementation and encourage sector-wide collaboration. According to the government, the committee will include representatives from key industry organizations, unions, and employer groups.
“Given the interconnectedness and interdependencies of so many parts of our economy, this is the only way to achieve success,” says Duncan Williams, president and CEO, Construction Association of Nova Scotia. “Today, we continue that work as a team for the benefits of all those who choose to call Nova Scotia home. I am proud and excited to be part of this historic moment on behalf of our industry.”
In September 2024, Ontario announced it is investing $26 million to build a new training centre at Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) 183’s skilled trades training campus in Vaughan. That investment will help LiUNA 183 train nearly 50,000 additional construction workers.
According to BuildForce Canada, the construction industry in Nova Scotia is going to continue to grow over the next decade.
However, an estimated 8,400 workers – or 23% of the 2024 labour force – in the province are expected to exit the industry due to retirement by 2034.
Factored in together, the province could face a hiring gap of as many as 15,000 workers by 2034.
“Meeting these hiring requirements will be challenging and will require a combination of strategies that include enhanced local recruitment and training, including the recruitment of permanent residents and newly arrived immigrants, and promoting career opportunities to workers with comparable skill sets who have been displaced from other industries,” said BuildForce Canada.
By 2034, the construction for all of Canada will face a total hiring requirement of 380,500 workers, according to the national industry-led organization.
