Ontario Construction News staff writer
Ontario is adding 3,800 funded postsecondary seats for skilled trades programs as part of a larger expansion aimed at addressing labour-market needs across the province.
The trades seats are part of more than 70,000 new publicly funded postsecondary seats being added in high-demand fields, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), health care, education and other labour-market programs.
“Building more homes requires both a strong economy and a strong skilled workforce. As Ontario navigates rising costs and global trade uncertainty, investing in the next generation of skilled tradespeople and professionals will strengthen our workforce here at home and help our industry continue building the homes and communities our growing province needs,” said Scott Andison, CEO, Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA).
A total of 40,000 of the seats in the latest round, with students able to enrol in some programs as early as the fall 2026 academic year.
The government says the expansion is supported by $1.7 billion in funding and follows an earlier allocation of 30,000 seats announced in May.
Colleges and universities submitted proposals based on their institutional capacity, local industry needs, regional labour-market conditions and student demand.
The province says it received more than 1,000 letters of support from employers for expanding programs in high-demand fields.
The more than 70,000 additional seats include 40,200 in STEM programs, 16,100 in health care, 7,900 in education, 3,800 in trades and 3,000 in other labour-market-driven programs.
The trades expansion comes as construction and other industries continue to face shortages of workers in occupations requiring specialized technical training.
The province says programs in trades and other high-demand areas generally have higher employment rates in related fields and higher wages after graduation.
The announcement was made at McMaster University in Hamilton, which is receiving $90 million to fund 2,769 new seats beginning this academic year. Details on funding for other participating colleges and universities are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The expansion is part of Ontario’s broader $6.4-billion postsecondary funding model. The province says the model will increase annual operating funding for colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes to $7 billion.
Ontario also announced nearly $1 billion through its 2025 budget to fund more than 100,000 additional seats in programs intended to meet labour-market demand, including skilled trades, nursing, teaching and STEM.
“Young people across Ontario are ambitious, talented and ready to build their future, and we need to make sure their education leads to real opportunities when they enter the workforce,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By opening 70,000 more seats in programs tied to in-demand careers, we’re giving the next generation a clearer path to good-paying jobs while building the skilled workforce our province will depend on for decades to come.”
The province’s postsecondary expansion comes as employers in construction and other sectors seek workers with specialized skills and apprenticeship training.
