Ontario Investing $90 Million for Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships

The Ontario government will spend $90m over three years to make education in the trades more widely available.

Over the next three years, the Ontario government will invest $90 million in expanding access to apprenticeships and education in the skilled trades.

The investment comes on the heels of the Apprenticeship Youth Advisors report, which lays out recommendations for bolstering Ontario's skilled trades force.

Why pursue the skilled trades?

The skilled trades are the backbone of our modern economy — where would we be without plumbing, airplanes, and the internet? Companies across Canada are actively seeking all kinds of tradespeople to fill gaps in their ranks, and employment in the trades is typically quite secure. As Ontario Minister of Labour, Training, and Skills Development Monte McNaughton said, "When you have a job in the skilled trades, you have a job for life."

Plus, in just a few short years, about one in five jobs in Ontario — that's 20% of all jobs in the province! — will be in the skilled trades. With the average age of new people entering the trades at a whopping 29, and a third of all tradespeople getting ready to retire, there's an urgent need for people of all stripes in the trades sector.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

The Ontario government is also investing more money in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), a transition program in high schools to help students move into apprenticeships. More than 800 schools across the province will take part in OYAP, making training in the trades more available than ever to Ontario high school students.

Encouragement for employers is coming, too, in an effort to support underrepresented groups' entry into the trades. Women, members of the BIPOC community, and folks living with disabilities will all benefit from pre-apprenticeship training funds that will increase next year and help bring more diversity to the sector.

Skilled Trades Ontario

Starting in January, Skilled Trades Ontario will go live to help those considering a career in the trades find the right education and certification. Of course, you can always check out the SchoolFinder program pages, too!

These new investments in the skilled trades are great news for students, newcomers, and anyone looking to get started in a strong, stable career. The conversation around trades and apprenticeships is changing, so if you're interested in getting your hands dirty, keep an eye out for more info on skilled trades and apprenticeships in Ontario.