In the world of construction, you’ll need more than just a hammer, drill, and screwdriver to land a job. You won’t even get on the jobsite if you don’t first show time management, confidence, and an eagerness to learn.

That’s exactly how Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) approaches their training program funded by the Northpine Foundation – a program supporting Employment Income Assistance (EIA) recipients in finding work in the construction sector. Though MCSC is training participants in applicable skills like framing, scaffolding, stuccoing, painting, and drywalling, the magic happens even before students pick up their tools with job readiness training designed to set the foundation for success.

The result? Graduates are skilled and employable.

Just ask Art Reid, owner of Express Employment Professionals in Winnipeg. He’s been placing program grads with employers, and he can’t stop raving about what he’s seen.

“The first grad I met was in my waiting room 20 minutes before the interview. When I walked up and said hi, he stood up and shook my hand. We went through a great interview,” said Reid. “Those at the company he was hired by said the same thing. He’s got a great attitude and work ethic, puts in an honest effort all day, and he’s a pleasant person to work with.”

Reid’s not just talking about one standout individual, though. He’s seen it repeatedly with grads of this MCSC program.

“Everyone I’ve met is in my waiting room early, they’ve got a hard copy of their resume, they understand what they’re there for, and we have great conversations in their interviews,” he noted. “The people themselves are amazing, but it’s clear the program they’ve gone through is making a difference. It’s building confidence in these young people.”

That confidence certainly comes from learning new skills, but it’s also a result of MCSC’s hard work with the participants, many of whom are newcomers or Indigenous. The program doesn’t stop once the training ends. MCSC staff continue to invest in their students, meeting with them one-on-one for weekly check-ins until they secure a job. They work to remove every barrier to employment for students, including driving them to interviews and helping them get their driver’s license.

“Many of the EIA recipients we’re working with are refugees, so they come with trades experience from their home country. They just don’t know how to navigate the culture of construction in Canada,” explained MCSC Executive Director Carol Paul. “They just want an opportunity to show that they’re eager, ready, and willing to work.”

With a labour shortage in construction, these grads are the talent that many employers have been waiting for. For Paul, it’s just a matter of finding the right opportunities at the right time for graduates of the program. It’s integral for her and her team to be nimble, adjusting the trades they focus on in the program to meet the needs of the ever-changing construction landscape.

“Scaffolding was a huge gap, but now with the tariffs, there aren’t as many large buildings going up,” she said. “We’re constantly navigating the construction landscape to see where there are jobs right now. Modular homes are becoming popular, so we’re moving a lot of people to framing.”

MCSC’s goal in 2025 is to have at least 66 EIA recipients employed out of the 90 they’ve trained. They’re well on their way with 47 already. With 15 more participants recently graduating from the program at the end of August, and graduates who are already in the workforce making a good name for the program, doors will surely continue to open for future participants.

“Companies are starting to see the value in these hardworking EIA recipients,” Paul said. “The employers who’ve taken a chance on our grads are now asking, ‘When can we get more?’”

For MCSC, this program is about more than filling jobs. It’s about changing lives and reshaping the construction workforce.

As more employers discover the drive and grit these participants bring, one thing is clear: the future of construction in Manitoba is being built not just with tools, but with opportunity.

If you or your company is interested in hiring an MCSC Northpine graduate, reach out to our team at info@mbcsc.com