Ontario government is funding more local trade programs to close employment gap
Several Hamilton organizations have recently received investments from the provincial government to support skills development among youth, women and others in steel work, construction and masonry.
As part of the more than $200-million Skills Development Fund, the Ontario government has invested in programs at YWCA Hamilton, Tomorrow's Trades Hamilton, Heddle Shipyards, the Ontario Home Builders' Association, and Industry Education Council of Hamilton, among others.
Most of the funds have been promised to the construction industry.
John St. Pierre, program liaison at Tomorrow's Trades, told The Spectator the demand for skilled trades is high across all sectors.
The demand is going up because older journeypersons are retiring, and younger people didn't necessarily see (skilled trades) as a viable career option," said St. Pierre.
A 2016 report by the Ontario government noted nearly one in three journeypersons in Ontario were aged 55 or older.
St. Pierre said younger individuals from post-secondary institutions and the service industry are increasingly signing up for trade programs, with many on a wait-list for programs.
In London, we had 36 seats and received over 175 applications," he said.
Now that the training program by Tomorrow's Trade is coming to Hamilton, he said he is expecting similar interest among participants.
St. Pierre said that skilled trades workers are able to earn between mid-$30s to $50 an hour.
Last week, YWCA Hamilton announced it had received a more than $400,000 investment for a year-long construction craft worker pre-apprentice program, focused on closing the gender gap in the skilled trades sector. The program - to be run in partnership with LiUNA Local 837 - would assist women, and persons with disabilities and mental health barriers struggling to enter the skilled trades.
This new program will encourage all genders to participate in the skilled trades, as it is just as important that women and nonbinary people have access to these well-paying and high-demand jobs as it is for the industry to benefit from their unique perspectives, skills, and experiences," said Denise Christopherson, CEO of YWCA, in a release.
At least $1.12 million in funding was awarded to the Industry Education Council of Hamilton for its WAGE II program, supporting the construction sector for the Greater Hamilton and Golden Horseshoe regions.
The funding would help provide upskill training programs in collaboration with Mohawk College, LiUNA Local 837, and the Halton Industry Education Council (HIEC).
Heddle Shipyards also received an $8.7-million investment for developing new technology and training the company's workforce in Hamilton, Port Weller and Thunder Bay.
The organization will be training more than 300 employees and 20 apprentices with the latest tech hardware including robotic welding, 3D scanning, and augmented reality training equipment.
Heddle's release noted the 12-month project will create thousands of jobs in Ontario's shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing sectors."
On Thursday, the Immigrants Working Centre announced it launched a virtual portal for internationally trained tradespeople called Trades Gateway. Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the portal will increase access to information, improve trade certifications, and streamline networking opportunities, according to the organization.
The provincial government reported that there were more than 330,000 vacancies in Ontario for skilled labour between July and September 2021.
At least 1,790 people were enrolled in preapprenticeship programs across the province between April 2021 and March 2022.
Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com