Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance (OSTA) has named Steven Crombie as chair for 2023.
โIโm very pleased to take on a leading role as OSTA keeps working to narrow that gap between the skills people have and those employers need,โ Crombie said in a statement. โWith Ontarioโs labour shortage at an all-time high, itโs more important than ever to break down every barrier that prevents workers from achieving their career goals in the skilled trades.โ
OSTA represents companies that employ over 100,000 skilled tradespeople across Ontario including those who build transit, hospitals, bridges and homes.
โItโs essential to let job seekers know the scale of opportunity that exists as Ontario focuses on building more homes, highways and transit,โ Crombie said. โThe career possibilities in construction and building and maintaining infrastructure are wide open.โ
A more modern and flexible training system would better support apprentices and employers and help address many of todayโs labour challenges, according to an OSTA release.
โTwo things really need to happen,โ added Crombie. โOne is equipping tradespeople with a range of in-demand skills. The other is giving them the freedom to move seamlessly from trade to trade. Thatโs the kind of flexibility that will make all the difference.โ