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COUNCIL NEWS

HCC Launches a Province-Wide Workforce Engagement Initiative

We are thrilled to announce that our funding through the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) has been officially approved! This funding enables a province-wide workforce engagement initiative aimed at strengthening Nova Scotia’s housing construction sector, a major investment in the future of our industry and communities.

Building Awareness, Interest, and Career Pathways Across Nova Scotia

This one-year initiative is designed to increase awareness, spark interest, and prepare youth and young adults for careers in Nova Scotia’s housing construction sector. While the focus is on engagement rather than direct job placement, the project will expand the talent pool and create clear pathways into skilled trades, apprenticeship programs, and employment opportunities.

Through a comprehensive mix of digital campaigns, community outreach, and school-based programming, we aim to reach young people at scale while strengthening connections between employers, training providers, and jobseekers.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Skilled Trades Professionals

Nova Scotia’s housing construction sector is essential to building strong communities. Like many regions, the province faces growing workforce demands. Our approach goes beyond recruitment—it’s about inspiration, exposure, and meaningful connection.

This campaign is designed to show youth and young adults (ages 12–35) that a future in the trades, particularly housing construction, is real, rewarding, and within reach. Too often, outdated perceptions have painted construction careers as a “second option.” This initiative is redefining that narrative, demonstrating that trades can be financially stable, entrepreneurial, community-building, and technologically advanced.

Young people don’t just want to hear about careers—they want to experience them. Our initiative includes:

Immersive VR experiences that let students step onto a job site without leaving school.
Ambassador Programs featuring real apprentices and tradespeople sharing their stories.
Employer engagement that provides tangible next steps toward apprenticeship, training, and employment.

“This engagement campaign is about more than awareness—it’s about alignment,” says Jessica Ward, Operations and Project Development Manager.
“We’re intentionally bringing together industry, educators, community partners, and potential tradespeople to ensure our housing and workforce development efforts are connected, responsive, and built for long-term impact. When engagement is done well, it strengthens not only our programs, but the entire ecosystem that supports them.”

While this project does not focus on direct hiring, it strengthens awareness, readiness, and career navigation—helping young people move from curiosity to commitment.

Partnerships Driving Success

Key partners supporting this campaign include:

Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)
Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA)
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
Regional Centres for Education (RCEs)
Employers and industry partners across the province

Ambitious Goals, Real Impact

Our initiative aims to:

Reach 85,000 youth and young adults annually through digital outreach, in-school programming, community events, and immersive learning experiences.
Inspire 5–10% of those reached to seriously consider a career in housing construction—translating to thousands of youth seeing new possibilities for their future.
Support recruitment of 850–1,700 new workers annually, helping meet 25–50% of the sector’s workforce recruitment needs.

This campaign sends a clear message: If you’re a young person in Nova Scotia and want a future in the trades, you have one. With exposure, mentorship, and pathway navigation, thousands of youth and young adults will see housing construction not just as a job, but as a career that builds communities—including their own.