EHRC Launches AI Workforce Intelligence Initiative with FSC Support
July 9, 2025
Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC), in partnership with the Future Skills Centre (FSC), is beginning a new national initiative to assess and address the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on Canada’s electricity workforce.
This initiative is supported by a broader $7.6 million investment from FSC in 35 new projects, funded through the Government of Canada’s Future Skills program. EHRC will deliver critical insights into how AI is reshaping the electricity sector and what it means for workforce development, training and policy.
AI is accelerating Canada’s already transforming electricity industry, enhancing productivity and enabling grid optimization, while driving higher power demands, particularly from AI data centers. EHRC is leading a comprehensive effort to analyze AI-driven shifts in skills and job functions, model the workforce needed to expand electricity capacity, and identify gaps in training, recruitment and retention strategies.
“The future of Canada’s electricity workforce depends on its ability to understand and adapt to rapid technological change,” says Sheldon Polowin, Economist at EHRC. “This initiative will ensure we have the intelligence and foresight to align workforce development with the realities of AI-driven transformation. It’s about equipping people with the right skills, at the right time, to power a sustainable and resilient future.”
“Canada’s electricity sector is evolving in response to new technologies like AI, and that evolution must include a clear strategy to support the people who keep the system running,” says Noel Baldwin, Executive Director of the Future Skills Centre. “This initiative will generate the kind of forward-looking insight we need to align workforce development strategies with the pace of technological change.”
Through deep engagement with industry stakeholders, labour market analysis and workforce modelling, EHRC will deliver actionable recommendations to support upskilling, reskilling and long-term workforce resilience through deep engagement with industry stakeholders, labour market analysis and workforce modelling. The findings will inform employers, educators and policymakers as they navigate the evolving landscape of AI, clean energy and the projected impact on power demand and workforce growth.
This initiative builds on EHRC’s track record of delivering trusted workforce intelligence, including recent research on Indigenous participation in the energy transition and skills gaps in renewable energy.
EHRC is actively seeking input and collaboration from employers, labour organizations, researchers and associations. The project is currently in development and will officially launch in fall 2025.
To get involved or subscribe for updates, visit ehrc.ca/artificial-intelligence.
