Canada is entering a period of sustained infrastructure development not seen in several decades. In April of 2025 BuildForce Canada projected serious shortages of skilled tradespersons in several trades, both in the residential and industrial, commercial and institutional sectors (ICI), across Canada from 2025 to 2034. And that was before the Government of Canada curtailed immigration, and committed to massive investments in defence infrastructure and new home building. 

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At the same time, the Indigenous population in Canada is growing at a greater rate than that of the general population, and at the current pace is expected to reach 6% by 2035, compared to 5% in 2021. Indigenous population vary dramatically across Canada - from as high as 18.1% and 17% in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, respectively, in 2021, to under 5% in New Brunswick (4.4%), Ontario (2.9%), Quebec (2.5%), and Prince Edward Island (2.2%). 

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In short, there are both significant challenges for skilled trades employers in the coming decade, and tremendous opportunities to meet those challenges in partnership with Indigenous peoples. AKI Recruiters works with unions and employers, Indigenous communities and organization, and leverages social media and Indigenous job boards, to identify Indigenous skilled tradespersons for employment. ​