(AGENPARL) – gio 06 ottobre 2022 [Ontario Logo]
NEWS RELEASE
Ontario Investing in Construction Sector to Combat Labour Shortage
New $3.7 million investment in Merit Ontario will prepare over 2,000 workers and jobseekers for well-paying jobs in their communities
October 06, 2022
OAKVILLE — The Ontario government is working for workers by investing $3.7 million to help up to 2,500 workers start or advance in well-paying careers in the construction industry. This decade, Ontario will need 100,000 more construction workers to help deliver the province’s ambitious infrastructure plans, including 1.5 million homes by 2031.
“Construction workers are heroes who keep our province running by building the roads, hospitals, homes, and schools that we rely on every day,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “With billions of dollars in infrastructure investments on the horizon, we need all hands on deck to get the job done. Our government will continue to invest in programs that ease labour shortages and give workers the tools to earn bigger paycheques for themselves and their families.”
“The Government of Ontario’s continued investment in Construction Ontario helps small and medium-sized construction employers and their employees access high-quality, engaging and accessible training to help them improve their productivity and enhance health and safety in the workplace,” said Mike Gallardo, President and CEO of Merit Ontario. “We thank the Government of Ontario and Minister McNaughton for their continued commitment to ensuring workers across the province have access to training no matter where they live.”
Quick Facts
– Ontario is facing increasing labour shortages with over 360,000 jobs going unfilled, costing billions in lost productivity.
– Data suggests that the need to replace retiring workers is elevated in the skilled trades. In 2016, nearly one in three people in Ontario with trades certificates were aged 55 years or older.
– Ontario’s construction sector had 28,360 jobs waiting to be filled in the second quarter of 2022, up from 20,895 in the second quarter of 2021.
– Ontario’s Skills Development Fund is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Quotes
“Spark has put into place several foundational programs that are benefiting our employees greatly. From starting out in their career to progressing through the career ladder, we have skills development at all levels, and it’s because of the foundations we’ve built with learning management platform’s subject matter expert technical training and fantastic senior leadership supporting all of it.”
– Emma Garrod
Talent Development Manager, Spark Power
Additional Resources
Media Contacts
Harry Godfrey
Minister’s Office
Anu Dhar
Communications Branch