Labour market insights

TRADE Auto Canada is a research initiative led by CSTEC and the Automotive Policy Research Centre (APRC), funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program under the Future Skills Centre (FSC).

Trade, Resilience, and Adaptation to Disruption in Employment in Canada’s Automotive Manufacturing Sector

Canada’s automotive manufacturing sector supports over 200,000 workers and contributes $16 billion annually to GDP. The sector is now facing two simultaneous disruptions: U.S. tariffs on Canadian vehicles and parts, and a stalled transition to electric vehicle production that has placed over $46 billion in announced investments at risk.

The project produces evidence-based analysis of the trade, economic, and workforce impacts facing the sector, and aims to support the workforce through the disruptions and transition.

Team of Automotive Engineers Working on Desktop Computers in Modern Office at Car Assembly Plant. Industrial Product Designer Developing Electric Engine Parts with Colleagues at Vehicle Factory.

TRADE Auto Canada

As part of the project’s first phase, we have released two reports that establish a baseline understanding of the sector — its size, structure, trade exposure, and the pressures it currently faces. These reports provide the foundation for the economic and occupational forecasting work underway. 

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