The Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program was originally created as part of the Labour Market Strategy to bridge the unemployment gap between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous labour force. This program replaced the former Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS). Its purpose is to “reduce the skills gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people by half, and reduce the employment gap by 25%” (Government of Canada, 2023). 

“The Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program provides funding to Indigenous service delivery organizations that design and deliver job training services to First Nations in their communities and is designed to help Indigenous people improve their skills and find employment” (Government of Canada, 2023a).

The ISET Program builds on what was successful about the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy and reflects what was heard from Indigenous partners to include:

• a co-developed program with Indigenous partners;
• increased funding;
• greater flexibility for organizations to design programming to meet the needs of their people and communities; and
• a new distinctions-based strategy that recognizes, respects and reflects Canada’s Indigenous peoples, specifically the First Nations, Métis and Inuit, but also addresses urban/non-affiliated service delivery needs.”