Lowes Donates 1.25 Million to Celebrate Skilled Trades and Technology Week

Skills/Compétences Canada has officially kicked off National Skilled Trades and Technology Week.

Skills/Compétences Canada has officially kicked off National Skilled Trades and Technology Week, in an effort to promote careers in skilled trades. They started the week with a bang by announcing that Lowe’s Canada is donating 1.25 Million dollars and committing to a 5 year program to promote skilled trades and technology jobs to Canada’s youth.

Lowe’s is committed to helping close the gap on the impending shortage of skilled trade workers that Canada is facing”, said Alan Huggins, President of Lowe’s Canada.

“We are very passionate about the work Skills Canada is doing and are thrilled to partner with them. Through our investment, we will work with Skills Canada to help prepare the next generation work force with the world-class skills needed to become the contractors and industry leaders of tomorrow.”

The funding will go to programs to attract youth to employment possibilities in the skilled trades. The Conference Board of Canada has identified a massive need for more human capital in the skilled trades. They are forecasting a daunting shortage of over one million skilled workers by the year 2020, and estimate that 40% of all new jobs will be in the skilled trades and technology industries.