Ottawa says it will spend up to $94.5M to improve jobs data in key industries

A worker welds at a steel manufacturing facility, in Hamilton, Ont., Wednesday, July 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

OTTAWA — The federal government says it’s planning to spend up to $94.5 million over the next five years to get a better sense of what’s happening on the ground in a turbulent labour market.

Ottawa says the money will go to 14 organizations to create forecasts and dashboards on data points like job vacancies broken down by key sectors.

The initiative is meant to give workers, employers and job seekers a better sense of the gaps and opportunities in each industry.

The funding is expected to support industries hit directly by U.S. tariffs such as manufacturing and forestry, as well as sectors like construction, trucking, mining and aerospace.

Canada’s unemployment rate stands at 6.5 per cent after nearly a year of the trade war with the United States and tariff-sensitive industries, such as manufacturing, have faced steep job losses over the past 12 months.

Ottawa says better information about the labour market is critical to efforts to adapt to tariffs, build out major projects and support home construction.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2026.

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press