Collaboration as a Catalyst to Bridge the Skills Gap

The skilled labour shortage many industries across North America are facing is not a new concern. With more people approaching retirement, there are serious concerns about the growing number of jobs that need to be filled. Add to that a rapidly evolving industrial landscape – involving highly technical positions and new technologies – and the needs of employers are quickly growing in complexity.

Many companies are seeking workers who have specialized skillsets or experience with emerging technologies who can support industry’s growth and evolution. However, many current traditional training programs through colleges or other institutions may not have the capacity to teach such focused concentrations. This results in a group of jobseekers without the particular skills required for the jobs of today – or the future.

Addressing this skills gap needs more than traditional training – it requires unique collaboration. By sharing expertise, infrastructure, and equipment, a variety of organizations across North America (including industry groups, engineering consultancies, unions, and training centres) are rethinking how cross-sector collaboration can support individuals with agile, hands-on, in-demand training, while also addressing industry’s targeted needs – quickly and effectively.

Collaborative programs to advance pressure welding

One example of a partnership that has supported both welding apprentices and industry is the Filling the Gap: Advanced Pressure Welder Training Program, developed and delivered through a partnership between the CWB Group, the CWB Welding Foundation, and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) union. The program, which began in 2021 and will run until 2026 through funding from the Government of Canada’s Emploi et Développement social Canada (EDSC) / Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Union Training Innovation Program (UTIP), is aimed at addressing the shortage of skilled pressure welders that many industries, such as energy, and construction depend on.

When the program launched in 2021, Douglas Luciani, President and CEO of CWB Group said, “There is a shortage of welders with a need for pressure qualifications to fulfill the current skills gap and mismatch across the country… With UTIP’s generous funding, the CWB Group along with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers will enhance the quality of training for our skilled workers.”

The Filling the Gap program consists of eight weeks of intensive training in the targeted area of pressure welding. Through a blend of online learning (with curriculum developed by the CWB Group and IBB) and hands-on training held at IBB facilities, participants receive extensive opportunity to practice on the welding equipment, guidance from industry experts, and direct pathways to earning specific pressure welding qualifications aligned with key industry standards.

Since the program started, more than 400 individuals have been trained in pressure welding, with nearly all participants gaining related employment upon completion of the program.

According to j'Amey Bevan, Director of National Training for the Boilermakers' National Training Trust Fund, the program teaches specialized skills in pressure welding that students would not have the opportunity to learn through a typical apprenticeship program. “The Filling the Gap program delivers specialized, industry-driven training that equips welders with the skills needed to excel in high-demand, high-precision environments. By focusing on advanced techniques and real-world applications, the program consistently produces job-ready welders who meet today’s rigorous industry standards,” Bevan states.

Companies that have hired past participants also agree that the program has been effective in advancing welders’ skills. Glenn Tardif, Vice President, Operations at one of the employers, Edmonton Exchanger, said, “The program has produced noticeable improvements in weld quality and welder confidence. As a contractor that does its own in-house weld testing, we have seen a dramatic decrease in weld test failures, currently less than two per cent, since the start of this program. This success has transferred to our field work, where we have seen overall weld quality improve.”

Read more about the program in the Fall 2025 issue of WELD magazine: "Filling the Gap: Advanced Pressure Welder Training Program Impact Report 2021-2025"

Training students in advanced manufacturing and robotics

A different type of collaboration is underway to develop skills needed by manufacturing companies in the US. EWI, a leading organization in manufacturing R&D, and Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC) are working together to help students train on advanced technologies while simultaneously supporting EWI’s innovation development.

EWI worked with Northland Manufacturing, the machine-shop arm of the NWTC, to install a collaborative robot (cobot) that supports both applied research and workforce development. The partnership enables EWI’s engineers to explore and optimize how cobots can safely and efficiently load and unload parts from computer numerical control machines, providing valuable data and insights for manufacturers interested in automation solutions.

In addition to supporting EWI’s testing and research, the cobot installation creates hands-on learning opportunities for Northland students who work part time at Northland Manufacturing. Through this partnership, students gain direct experience working with advanced automation technologies in an active job shop environment. They are exposed to real industrial processes and gain skills in operating, programming, and troubleshooting cobots - a growing area of demand in the manufacturing workforce.

Through a separate initiative, in 2024, EWI and the NWTC also partnered to develop a training camp for high school and college students, leveraging funding support for the State of New York and the U.S. Department of Commerce Build Back Better regional challenge grant. This training camp provided students with the opportunity to learn and train on cobots, while also helping to address the workforce skills gap in the manufacturing sector.

"Providing access to robots in a real-world, hands-on environment allows students to identify potential alternative career pathways, often influencing their decisions on further education, training, and eventual employment. The ability to understand how automation-related technologies affect manufacturing workflows can better prepare the next generation of workforce and jumpstart their careers in industry,” explains Daniel Vrana, Automation Team Lead at EWI.

Through the program, students used the Universal Robot (UR) cobot platform, giving them the tangible skills to test for and earn the Universal Robot Core Certificate – an industry-recognized professional certification that engineers receive to be eligible as UR cobot operators.

“In our experience, the use of robots day-to-day in educational settings has been transformational for students and mentors alike, prompting meaningful conversations about the role of robotics in modern manufacturing, the ability for skilled operators to work alongside new technologies to remain competitive, and which applications and workflows are best suited for automation," notes Vrana.

Both of these unique initiatives with EWI bridge the gap between training and industry, preparing students for high-demand jobs while advancing EWI’s mission to drive innovation in manufacturing.

Cross-sector partnerships as a win-win

These types of collaborations can succeed when each partner leverages their unique strengths. For instance, business groups can provide insight into industry needs and challenges, or access to facilities and equipment, while schools and training institutions can recruit participants and develop curriculum. These cross-sector partnerships create tailored programs that are effective in training individuals in specialized areas so they can hit the ground running once they enter the workforce. At the same time, companies benefit from having a pipeline of skilled candidates who are ready to take on emerging or technical positions and support future needs. Even small-scale initiatives can make a meaningful contribution to a company’s productivity and growth.

As industries continue to evolve and face mounting workforce pressures, it’s clear that traditional models of training alone are not enough. Leaders across sectors must look beyond institutional boundaries and actively seek out collaborative opportunities that align workforce development with real-world needs. By working together, groups can create flexible, focused programs that evolve with the technology and demands of the sector and result in a stronger, more resilient workforce for the future.

Aysha Raad, Communications Lead, CWB Group