Three-year plan provides roadmap to address Ontario’s skilled labour shortage
In honour of National Skilled Trade and Technology Week, Skilled Trades Ontario released its much-anticipated strategic plan to drive growth in the skilled trades sector over the next three years. You can read the full plan here.
The plan’s release aims to bring awareness to the growing demand for qualified skilled trades professionals across Ontario, while emphasizing the diverse career opportunities available in over 140 skilled trades.
“National Skilled Trade and Technology Week is all about promoting the many career opportunities in the skilled trades and technology. As demand for skilled workers continues to rise, we need to invest in our workforce and find new ways to help employers adapt and grow,” said Melissa Young, CEO/Registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario. “I’m proud to present our first strategic plan, which prioritizes skills development, technological advancements, and workforce diversity to meet that goal. While ambitious, it sets out clear and measurable objectives that will set us on the path to success.”
The plan includes four pillars to guide the agency’s vision over the next three years:
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- Supporting an innovative apprenticeship and certification model
- Promoting and advancing the skilled trades
- Facilitating research in the skilled trades
- Building a diverse, equitable, inclusive skilled trades sector
“Ontario needs 100,000 more skilled workers over the next decade to deliver on our government’s ambitious infrastructure plans, including building at least 1.5 million homes by 2031,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “We launched Skilled Trades Ontario to create more pathways and get people into the skilled trades faster.”
Skilled Trades Ontario launched the framework of the strategic plan at its first industry summit on apprenticeship in May 2023. Over 250 industry leaders, educators, and apprentices were invited to provide their feedback on the areas of focus.
“As a 309A Electrical Apprentice, I am proud to have contributed feedback to the Skilled Trades Ontario strategic plan,” said Dee Durant, 309A Electrical Apprentice, Construction and Maintenance. “This plan illustrates the ongoing efforts to meet the needs of Ontario’s apprentices, and I look forward to the positive effect it will have on the skilled trades industry.”
The agency’s strategic plan considers broader political, economic, social and technological trends that continue to impact Ontario’s skilled trades including the pandemic, infrastructure investments, diversity in the skilled trades and immigration and retirement trends.
“The future of Ontario’s skilled trades rests on the shoulders of the next generation,” said Melissa Young, CEO/Registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario. “With the support of our partners, we are confident that our strategic plan will create opportunities for current and future skilled trades professionals, and ultimately, narrow the labour gap.”
Read Skilled Trades Ontario’s strategic plan (2023-2026).
Quick Facts
- Skilled Trades Ontario has released its first strategic plan online, which will guide the agency’s priorities from 2023-2026.
- In May 2023, Skilled Trades Ontario presented the framework of the strategic plan at its first industry summit on apprenticeship to over 250 stakeholders for their input.
- As it relates to the construction sector, retirements continue to outpace the recruitment of new entrants which contributes to ongoing labour market challenges for Ontario’s construction industry (Source: BuildForce Canada).
- The three-year plan sets out clear and measurable goals to tackle Ontario’s skilled trades labour shortage.
About Skilled Trades Ontario
Skilled Trades Ontario is an agency of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development responsible for apprenticeship and skilled trades certification in Ontario. Skilled Trades Ontario is dedicated to simplifying access to services for skilled trades professionals, promoting the skilled trades as a career of choice and addressing the labour shortage in the skilled trades, in partnership with government and industry.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Media Relations
Skilled Trades Ontario
media@skilledtradesontario.ca