Invest Talent pilot boosts Metro Vancouver workforce

Invest Vancouver has completed a pilot workforce programme that trained 136 learners and engaged more than 80 employers across Metro Vancouver. The work focused on medical technology and cybersecurity roles.

The initiative, called Invest Talent, used an employer-led approach and was funded by the Future Skills Centre. Invest Vancouver described it as a repeatable model that aligns employers, training providers, and community organisations around a shared set of hiring needs.

The pilot exceeded its targets for training volumes and employer participation. Learner participation was 113% above the original target, and employer engagement was 133% above target.

Talent hubs

The pilot also established talent hubs in medical technology and cybersecurity. These hubs brought together employers and training partners around defined occupational requirements and recruitment plans.

The programme's equity mix also surpassed its target. Invest Vancouver reported that 87% of learners identified as part of an equity-deserving group, compared with an initial target of 50%. It did not provide a category breakdown in its results summary.

Invest Talent is "on track" to place 80 learners into production technician roles in the region's medtech industry. Invest Vancouver estimated the placements would represent $14.4 million in salary value over the next three years.

Employer demand

The pilot linked training places directly to vacancies reported by employers. Invest Vancouver positioned the work within a broader investment-readiness agenda for Metro Vancouver, treating workforce supply as a constraint on business growth and inward investment decisions.

The programme also tested operating practices it says can be reused, including a coordinated process for gathering employer requirements, aligning curriculum and training delivery, and connecting learners with hiring managers. Community organisations were involved to help bring candidates facing barriers into training.

In a statement on the results, Metro Vancouver Boards Chair Mike Hurley linked the pilot to labour market needs in priority sectors.

"These results show what is possible when workforce development is driven by real employer needs and aligned with economic development priorities," said Hurley. "Invest Talent has demonstrated that the region's leaders can respond quickly and inclusively to talent gaps in sectors that are critical to our regional economy."

Invest Vancouver Management Board Chair Linda Buchanan described the programme as a case study in closer alignment between training and economic development strategy.

"The pilot reinforces that economic development and workforce development are deeply connected. By investing in people and building systems that respond to industry needs, we are supporting long-term growth and resilience across the region," said Buchanan.

Jacquie Griffiths, President at Invest Vancouver, said the pilot was designed around hiring needs rather than course provision and recruitment.

"One of the strengths of the Invest Talent pilot is that it starts with employers and real hiring needs," said Griffiths. "By convening industry and aligning training to what is actually required on the ground, the initiative helped reduce friction between available talent and the roles companies are struggling to fill."

Regional pipeline

Metro Vancouver has a diverse economy, with a growing technology base alongside established health and life sciences activity. Employers in these sectors often compete nationally and internationally for specialised skills. At the same time, production and operations roles can be difficult to fill when training does not align with hiring timelines or when candidates lack clear pathways into entry-level positions.

Production technician roles in medtech typically sit at the intersection of manufacturing and regulated quality systems. Cybersecurity roles span risk management, security operations, and compliance requirements. Training programmes that map directly to job requirements can shorten recruitment cycles and reduce the need for extensive on-the-job conversion, although outcomes depend on hiring conditions and the scale of demand.

Invest Vancouver said it will continue working with employers, industry groups, post-secondary institutions, and workforce organisations across the region. It framed the effort as a way to maintain a talent pipeline that matches current and emerging labour needs and supports foreign direct investment.