Ottawa to fund paid placements in skilled trades at a cost of $880-million

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu says the federal government is putting $880-million behind a plan to get young workers paid, on-the-job experience in the skilled trades.

Starting early next year, young Canadians will be able to access paid job placements for up to four months to get hands-on experience before beginning an apprenticeship.

The funding comes from a bigger pot of $8-billion in spending that the Liberals have set aside since the spring economic update to promote the skilled trades across Canada.

‘The trades are having a real moment’: As perceptions change, more young workers are choosing this path

The federal government has stressed the importance of recruiting and training a new generation of skilled tradespeople – such as carpenters, electricians and welders.

As part of that regime, later this fall, any tradesperson who has completed an apprenticeship and earned a certification in a Red Seal trade since April, 2025, will also receive a $5,000 bonus.

The federal government will roll out a program over the fall to help small- and medium-sized businesses offer more apprenticeships and Ottawa also plans to top up employment insurance payments for apprentices during training starting next spring.