Ontario Construction News staff writer
The provincial government says it will invest $20.8 million to attract more people to the trades and boost the province’s skilled workforce.
“Ontario’s economy is facing a looming problem: a shortage of workers in the trades,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “We need to find additional ways to let young people and their parents know that a career in the trades is exciting, fulfilling and profitable. We have to erase the stigma and let people know that these are well-paying jobs.”
McNaughton made the announcement last Friday at Building Up, a Toronto non-profit that helps youth at risk get construction trades training while also creating affordable housing. Building Up will be training 33 youth in their pre-apprenticeship program this year.
The government will increase spending on Ontario’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training program by $2.5 million this year, supporting an additional 200 people. The program is offered free to participants and always includes a work placement.
In total, the government will invest $20.8 million into the program to help introduce over 1,800 people to the skilled buy ativan online trades so that they can secure what it describes as “vibrant and in-demand jobs.”
The program is delivered by Ontario colleges, private career colleges, union and non-union training centres and other community organizations. There are more than 140 skilled trades in Ontario and publicly funded colleges train about 81 per cent of apprentices.
The pre-apprenticeship program promotes careers in the trades for all Ontario residents, including youth at risk, new Canadians, women and Indigenous people.
“We’re levelling the playing field and giving people in Ontario the opportunity to get career-ready, so that we can build a better future for our citizens and for the province,” said McNaughton.
In the Greater Toronto Area, the province will fund 28 projects for more than 600 people to get training in a variety of trades such as electrician, welder and carpenter.
Funded projects include:
- A new pre-apprenticeship program delivered through the Labour Education Centre and Youth Employment Services (YES), which will provide 36 participants with the skills to become an apprentice in construction sector.
- A partnership between Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, George Brown College, and Toronto District School Board to provide 15 Indigenous people with 8 weeks of paid work experience in the General Carpenter and/or Drywall, Acoustic and Lathing Applicator trades.
About one in five new jobs in Ontario over the next five years is expected to be in trades-related occupations. Retirements in the skilled trades are driving the shortage of skilled workers. In 2016, nearly one in three journeypersons were aged 55 years and over.