Ontario Construction News staff writer
Merit Ontario will bring construction employers and workforce development experts together in Mississauga next month to discuss ways to recruit, support and retain apprentices as skilled labour shortages continue to challenge the industry.
The 2026 Apprenticeship Forum for Employers is scheduled for Nov. 18 and will focus on apprentice development, mentorship, retention and long-term workforce planning.
The half-day event is aimed specifically at employers and will examine challenges that can affect apprentices from registration through certification.
“Hiring an apprentice is only the beginning,” said Glenda Rahn, director of workforce development at Merit Ontario.
Rahn said the organization used feedback from employers who attended last year’s forum to shape this year’s event.
“Employers told us where they are seeing challenges and what they need more support with, so we’ve built the forum around those conversations,” she said.
The forum comes as construction employers contend with retirements among experienced tradespeople, competition for skilled workers and pressure to develop the next generation of workers.
Sessions will cover Ontario’s apprenticeship system, mentorship, emerging training technology and approaches to identifying and addressing apprentice learning needs.
The event will also look at workforce practices outside Ontario and strategies employers can use to improve apprentice completion rates and retention.
Merit Ontario says the goal is to give employers practical information and resources they can use in their own workplaces to support apprentices through certification and into longer-term careers.
