Ontario launches skilled trades career fairs for students

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Ontario government is holding a series of career fairs for students, to showcase opportunities in skilled trades.

The Level Up! skilled trades career fairs are open to all students, including First Nations schools and all publicly funded school boards. The will be held at the following locations:

  • Mississauga – Oct. 25 to 27
  • London – Nov. 9 and 10
  • Sudbury – Nov.14 and 15
  • Ottawa – Nov. 22 and 23
  • Thunder Bay – Nov. 29

trades training“Ontario is facing the largest labour shortage in a generation, which means when you have a job in the skilled trades, you have a job for life,” said Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton. “Our government is launching these annual career fairs so more students and parents know university isn’t the only path to success.

RESCON applauds provincial initiatives to tackle skilled trades shortage

“We will continue to make historic investments to attract more young people to rewarding, lucrative and purpose-driven careers in the trades, and ensure employers can find the skilled workers they need to grow their businesses and our economy.”

Level Up! is a series of multi-day career fairs aimed at students in grades 7 to 12. Interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities, and presentations rom tradespeople and local employers will highlight 144 different skilled trades.

“Skilled tradespeople are vitally important to not only our economy but our communities and creating the next generation of skilled tradespeople will not happen overnight,” said Jack Olivera, business manager, LiUNA Local 183, LiUNA OPDC. “The dedicated and focused work of Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) is critically important in supporting increased access and pathways for people who are interested in exploring opportunities in the trades.

“By making the pathway to apprenticeship and journeyperson less complex, more people from diverse backgrounds and experiences can enter rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”

There are currently more than 360,000 jobs going unfilled across the province, while one in five new job openings in Ontario are projected to be in the skilled trades by 2025.

“I have great hope that the skilled trades initiative in Ontario will encourage new entrants to skilled trades which our industry desperately needs,” said Tony Fanelli
executive director, Construction Labour Relations Association of Ontario.

“We have so many well-paid positions to fill as the backend boomers continue to retire. This initiative can provide meaningful careers for young women and men as our economy continues to grow.”

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