Sector Councils

Operating at an arm’s length from the Government of Canada, sector councils are national partnership organizations that bring together business, labour and educational stakeholders. Sector councils are a platform for these stakeholders to share ideas, concerns and perspectives about human resources and skills issues. Sector councils aim to find solutions that benefit their sector in a collective, collaborative and sustained manner.

Sector Council Program

Through the Sector Council Program, the Government of Canada is working with the private sector to enhance adult workers’ skills through Activities and Skills Tables.

The Government of Canada supports sector councils in key sectors of the Canadian economy, including but not limited to:

  • automotive
  • aviation
  • biotechnology
  • child care
  • environment
  • mining
  • petroleum
  • policing
  • steel

Activities

Sector councils undertake a number of activities to respond to skills and labour market issues affecting their sectors, including the development and implementation of:

  • labour market information products to allow businesses to plan human resources and project investments;
  • national occupational standards to facilitate labour mobility (including apprenticeship), influence college curricula and promote health and safety in the workplace;
  • targeted recruitment and skills development initiatives to increase labour force participation and integration of under-represented groups such as Aboriginal people and immigrants;
  • education partnerships leading to curriculum that meets industry needs;
  • skills development tools, including e-learning;
  • essential skills initiatives; and
  • tools and approaches to integrate foreign-trained workers.

Skills Tables

Skills tables are temporary (3-5 years) not-for-profit organizations responsible for:

  • bringing together key stakeholders to collectively identify human resource needs; and
  • planning for solutions to key labour market challenges facing a region of Canada.

Key stakeholders can include:

  • industry
  • labour
  • federal and provincial-territorial governments
  • the training community
  • other groups (e.g. Aboriginal organizations)