Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance

August 17, 2026 – Guelph, Ontario – Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) is proud to join Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) and the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition (CSTEC) in leading the new Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance, a national initiative designed to strengthen the workforce capabilities Canadian manufacturers need to compete, innovate and grow.

Announced today by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance will bring together manufacturers, labour organizations, education and training institutions, industry associations, Indigenous partners, underrepresented groups and other stakeholders from across Canada.

Photographed here, L to R: Jean-Pierre Giroux, President EMC, Joe Laparco, President Automated Services International Inc., Sarah Watts-Rynard, CEO Polytechnics Canada, Jim Jarrell, President & CEO Linamar, Marty Warren, National Director United Steelworkers, Dominque O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, Ken Delaney, Executive Director CSTEC, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and Jayson Myers, CEO NGen.

The launch of this new initiative comes at a pivotal time for Canadian manufacturing. Manufacturers are responding simultaneously to skills shortages, demographic change, trade and supply-chain pressures and intensifying international competition, while automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies continue to transform manufacturing operations and the capabilities required of Canada’s workforce.

For EMC, the opportunity extends beyond addressing individual skills shortages. Canada is making significant investments in technology, infrastructure, productive capacity and strategically important industries. Ensuring manufacturers have the people and workforce capabilities required to adopt new technologies, improve processes and fully utilize those investments will be critical to translating them into stronger productivity, domestic manufacturing capacity and long-term economic growth.

Manufacturing is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy. EMC has long approached sector competitiveness through the interconnected areas of People, Process and Plant/Technology. Investment in any one of these areas can improve performance; aligning all three can multiply the impact. The Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance provides an important opportunity to ensure workforce development advances alongside Canada’s investments in technology, infrastructure and industrial capacity.

From Workforce Intelligence to Industry Action

Through its national manufacturing network and extensive direct relationships with manufacturers, EMC will help bring real industry needs and emerging opportunities into the Alliance and translate those priorities into practical, scalable solutions.

Areas where EMC is positioned to support Alliance activity include:

• Industry-led workforce intelligence and skills priorities – engaging manufacturers directly to identify current and emerging workforce pressures, occupations, skills gaps and capability requirements, while building on EMC’s existing labour market intelligence and industry research.
• Technology adoption, productivity and workforce capability – identifying the skills and training manufacturers need to successfully adopt automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing processes, helping ensure investments in technology are matched by investments in people.
• Strategic manufacturing and defence readiness – supporting the workforce capabilities manufacturers will require to participate in expanding Canadian defence, domestic production and other strategic supply-chain opportunities, including the development of a workforce that can respond to new technologies, standards and production requirements.
• Building Canada’s next generation of manufacturing talent – strengthening pathways into manufacturing for youth and underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, newcomers and persons with disabilities, while helping manufacturers broaden and strengthen their future talent pipelines.
• Practical industry-led solutions – working with manufacturers and Alliance partners to develop, test and scale training approaches, tools and other workforce solutions that respond to demonstrated employer needs and can produce measurable results.

“EMC is proud to bring the strength of our national manufacturing network, trusted partnerships and industry expertise to the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance. Joining forces with Next Generation Manufacturing Canada and the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition, we are building a collaborative, pan-Canadian approach to addressing the workforce challenges facing manufacturers today and into the future.

By working directly with manufacturers and industry stakeholders, the Alliance will identify emerging workforce needs and develop practical, industry-led solutions that strengthen workforce capabilities and help Canada’s manufacturers compete and succeed at home and around the world.”

— Jean-Pierre (JP) Giroux, President / Président, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC)

The Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance is the second of six sector-focused Workforce Alliances being established in sectors critical to Canada’s economic growth. Together, the Alliances are intended to better align workforce planning and skills development with the needs of Canadian employers and workers and with Canada’s broader economic priorities.

For Canadian manufacturers, the Alliance also creates a direct opportunity to help shape the workforce solutions that will affect the sector. EMC will engage manufacturers and industry partners across Canada through workforce intelligence activities, industry discussions and action groups, and opportunities to participate in the development and testing of practical solutions.

Manufacturers interested in accessing future Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance resources, identifying workforce priorities or participating in Alliance activities are encouraged to connect with EMC.

About Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium

Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping Canadian manufacturers grow and become more competitive. Through its extensive manufacturing network, EMC connects manufacturers with peers, industry expertise, workforce development resources, labour market intelligence, training and practical solutions that strengthen manufacturing performance across People, Process and Plant/Technology.

For more information about EMC and opportunities to participate in the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance, visit emccanada.org/about or contact Tiffany Robbins, Marketing & Communications Manager, EMC.

Media Contact

Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
Tiffany Robbins
Marketing & Communications Manager
trobbins@emccanada.org