Project Types

Project types

The SLMP program provides incremental funding for projects designed to support the development of strategic, sustainable solutions that support workforce development. 

It funds five different project types: 

  • engagement and planning 
  • research 
    • labour market research
    • future focused labour market research 
  • strategy development
  • implementation 
  • evaluation 

Applicants should assess their needs and review available information to determine what project type is best for their needs. SLMP program staff can advise on the benefits and requirements for each project type.  

Engagement and planning 

Engagement and planning projects support the development of partnerships across or within sectors, regions, and/or populations. These projects are of particular value to emerging sectors, as they bring stakeholders together to identify and prioritize workforce challenges, opportunities, and knowledge gaps. These projects build consensus among stakeholders on how to move forward to develop solutions to address their identified challenges. Engagement and planning projects help to answer questions such as: 

  • Who are our key stakeholders?
  • What are our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges?
  • What identified workforce development challenges should we prioritize?  

Labour market research

Labour market research projects gather labour market information about a sector, region, or population. This includes the makeup of its workforce, including demographics, skill levels, and training needs.  

A typical labour market research project gathers and analyzes data to answer questions such as: 

  • What is the composition of our workforce? Who is missing?
  • What are the major challenges affecting our workforce? 
  • What are their causes and possible solutions? 
  • Does current training meet the changing needs of the workforce? 
  • How does our sector-wide workplace culture affect attraction, retention, and career advancement? 
  • What do labour supply and demand look like over a given timeframe? 

Future focused labour market research

The SLMP program supports projects focused on preparing for the labour market of tomorrow by using strategic foresight methods to gather information on trends, risks, and emerging issues, and by developing scenarios to prepare for possible outcomes. 

These projects help to answer questions such as: 

  • What are the potential sources of major disruption in our sector?
  • What labour market conditions are expected in the future?
  • What opportunities can be identified to help applicants manage uncertainties and increase their resilience and innovation?

Requirements for all research projects:

  • Must be guided by generally accepted research practices (please see Research Project Guidelines). 
  • A qualified labour market researcher must be used. 
  • Projects involving Indigenous communities and/or organizations must:
    • consider research principles related to how research data  will be owned, controlled, accessed and possessed and the Tri-Council Policy Statement Chapter 9; and
    • recognize and consider issues relating to the appropriate use and protection of Indigenous knowledge.
  • Intellectual property matters must be considered and dealt with in accordance with the contract.

Please see our Research Project Guidelines for more information. 

Strategy development 

Strategy development projects support the development of evidence-based strategic plans to address workforce development and identified labour market challenges. 

The solutions developed through these projects are validated by project partners and sector stakeholders and result in the development of a strategic plan that clearly identifies objectives, outcomes, action items, and timelines. These projects provide “roadmaps” for addressing identified challenges and help to answer questions such as: 

  • What options do we have to address our workforce challenges?
  • What results do we want to achieve? 
  • What activities and resources will help us achieve these results?
  • Are there risks associated with our strategy? If so, how can we mitigate those risks? 
  • What data is required to track and measure progress?

Strategy implementation

Strategy implementation projects test new ideas, tools, and approaches to address labour market challenges. These projects must include an evaluation component, preferably supported by a credentialed third party evaluator, a sustainability plan, and a cash contribution. Cash contributions are monetary resources secured by the applicant and project partners to support the implementation of the proposed solution. The contribution amount is not set but should reflect readiness to invest in the proposed solution. 

A typical strategy implementation project results in an evaluation report, including recommendations for improvement. It also provides a sustainability plan to ensure the work continues beyond SLMP project funding .  

Strategy implementation projects help to answer questions such as: 

  • How effectively does the solution address the identified challenge?
  • Is the solution that is being tested sustainable? 
  • What are the short to medium-term impacts of the solution?
  • What are the lessons learned?

Evaluation 

Evaluation projects are designed to assess the medium to long-term impacts of existing programs and initiatives to determine if they achieve the intended outcomes. 

Evaluation projects help to answer questions such as: 

  • What is the long-term impact (5-10 years) of the program or initiative?
  • What are the overall intended and/or unintended effects of the program or initiative? 
  • Have the workforce challenges that the solution was intended to address been improved or changed due to the program or initiative? 
  • What changes could be made to improve the program or initiative?