Team Canada Strong Youth Placements
The Team Canada Strong Youth Placements (TCSYP) program will support young people (15 to 30 years old) as they explore careers in the skilled trades. Youth will gain skills and experience through paid, entry-level work placements of up to four months that connect them to apprenticeship pathways. It will help participants develop skills and gain exposure to construction and trades-related occupations, build professional networks, and advance toward long-term careers in the skilled trades.
TCSYP is one of many investments to help meet the growing demand for skilled workers under Team Canada Strong, a nationwide initiative to recruit, train, and hire up to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers by 2030-2031.
TCSYP is delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). ESDC works to improve the standard of living and quality of life for all Canadians.
What this program supports
TCSYP provides young Canadians with paid, entry-level job placements that open the door to registered apprenticeships. Projects funded through TCSYP will match youth interested in the skilled trades with employers to develop their skills and gain valuable experience, while supporting Canada's housing, infrastructure, and defence priorities.
For youth
Supporting young people to explore careers in the skilled trades
Youth participants will be matched with employers offering opportunities in construction and trades-related jobs. They will gain skills and earn income through work placements of up to four months, giving them an opportunity to build professional networks and advance toward long-term careers in the skilled trades. Through TCSYP, young people interested in entering the skilled trades will have access to a safe, positive work experience, as well as the support and information they need to succeed.
Participants will have access to wraparound supports that respond to their individual needs and allow them to successfully participate in work placements. Supports can be used to help participants meet living expenses, address health or disability barriers, and acquire skills and knowledge. Some examples include (but are not limited to) mental health supports, transportation subsidies, or childcare.
Youth facing barriers to employment can include:
- young women and gender-diverse youth entering male-dominated fields
- Indigenous youth
- Black youth
- racialized youth
- 2SLGBTQI+ youth
- youth with disabilities
- youth in rural, remote, Northern and fly-in communities
- youth from Official Language Minority Communities
For employers
TCSYP helps employers in the construction and skilled trades sectors, including small and medium-sized businesses, recruit and develop the next generation of skilled workers. Through the program, employers can access wage subsidies and capacity-building supports to create safe, inclusive, and welcoming workplaces for young people.
Employers will have the opportunity to connect with motivated youth interested in careers in the skilled trades, and play a direct role in shaping Canada's future workforce. By providing meaningful work placements and mentorship, employers can address workforce needs, strengthen their talent pipeline, and support the next generation as they build successful careers in the skilled trades.