Since mid-2019, FOCAL has been pleased to share research, resources and insights related to the Canadian automotive manufacturing sector’s ongoing transition from internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) production to electric vehicle (EV) production. Our team is dedicated to supporting the needs of both employers and workers in the sector throughout this transition, and is supported by the Government of Canada via their Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.

The following is a summary of recent highlights and achievements from the FOCAL team. In addition to exploring these materials, we also encourage you to visit our events page to learn more about upcoming webinars on this workforce transition. If you have any questions, please contact us.

New EV Report and related media coverage

In early February 2024, FOCAL released extensive new research in a report: The Shift to EV Production in Canada’s Automotive Manufacturing Sector. You can view an executive summary of this report on our website and/or download the report in full from the same source.

After its public release, this research was picked up by a number of Canadian and international media sources. Please visit the links below to read some of this coverage.

• Yahoo Business (Published February 8, 2024)
• AutoBlog (Published February 8)
• The Malaysian Reserve (Published February 8)
• Canadian Manufacturing (Published February 9)
• Shop Metalworking Technology (Published February 12)
• AutoSphere (Published February 13)
• Jobber Nation (Published February 13)
• Canadian Auto Dealer (Published February 14)
• Policy Magazine (Published February 21, 2024)

If you’re interested in learning more about the research detailed in this EV report, please contact us to arrange a meeting with Ken Delaney and/or Bassel Kazzaz. Ken and/or Bassel would be pleased to discuss this report and offer insights on the future of Canada’s automotive production workforce.

Occupational profiles and STMs

FOCAL has continued to release a series of Occupational Profiles and Skills Transferability Matrices (STMs) to serve as a resource to employers and workers in Canada’s automotive sector. Please visit our website to see our most recent reports and contact us if you have any questions or feedback for the FOCAL team. Our Data Dashboard and Regional Profiles also remain available for public use.

Labour Market Forecasts

FOCAL recently released a number of detailed Labour Market Forecasts including reports on Ontario, Windsor-Sarnia, the Golden Horseshoe and Eastern Ontario. Please visit this section of our website to download these reports. As always, we welcome you to contact us with any questions.

Follow FOCAL to stay informed

We have plenty of work ahead of us and we’re geared up to handle it. Please follow FOCAL on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to stay informed about the progress we’re making and gain access to resources and special events as well as funding opportunities for employers.

We encourage readers to share this information with their professional networks to best communicate these opportunities with automotive sector staff and employers. The FOCAL team welcomes your questions and feedback—you may contact us at your convenience.