Ontario invests $26.8M to attract young people to the trades

The Ontario government is trying to attract younger people to skilled trade jobs in the face of a looming labour shortage by introducing the idea of working as an electrician, a plumber or a carpenter as early as grade one.

"The aim of the ministry's curriculum reforms is to change the culture within our schools," said Minister of Education Stephen Lecce. "The skilled trades are dignified, well-paid jobs, and I think young people should be targeting them."

A provincial investment of $26.8 million in new funding to attract young people to the trades was made at London Regional Children's Museum onThursday, bringing the government's total investment to $43 million.

Ontario has also designated three industry leaders to be labour advisors.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said their job is to consult with educators, students and parents.

"They'll help us work to improve awareness of the trades, especially in the earlier years, starting in gradeone with a focus on gradeseven and eight," he said.

The labour advisors are expected to report back with their recommendations in nine months.

Skilled trade stigma

"The skilled trades are often overlooked. There's even a stigma against them, butthe truth is they offer great jobs. Careers in the trades are well paid, many earn six figures," said McNaughton.

"But it isn't just about the money. These jobs are truly in demand. People with these skills are needed even now, among unprecedented economic challenges. There will be even more demand as Ontario recovers."

McNaughton said business owners across the province are unable to find workers. He also drew on pre-pandemic data that said there were 12,000 unfilled jobs in the London region.

In order to resolve the labour shortage, McNaughton said the stigma needs to end, the apprenticeship system needs to be simplified and employers need to take on more apprentices.

Of the $26.8 million in new funding, $3.5 million is going to Skills Ontario, $2.3 million is going to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and $21 million is going to Ontario's Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program.

"Skills Ontario does some very neat things. Demonstrations, show and tells and they use virtual reality. They run competitions for students across the province," said McNaughton.

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program sends representatives to secondary schools to raise awareness about trades jobs, similar to the way recruiters do for colleges and universities, he explained, while Ontario's Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program promotes careers in the trades to all Ontario residents.

"Kids and parents should know how to become an iron worker or an electrician the same way they know how to become a firefighter or lawyer," said McNaughton.