The Ontario government is investing more than $13 million in free training and paid apprenticeships for electricians.
Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton, says Ontario is bouncing back, and they need all hands on deck, especially in the construction sector.
“We’ve learned that over 194,000 people started work in Ontario last month. With this latest increase there are now more working in the province than before the pandemic. Make no mistake., Ontario is getting stronger,” stated McNaughton.
He adds, with over $2 billion in infrastructure projects on the horizon, Ontario faces a shortage of electricians and other skilled trades workers. This investment will help the province deliver critical hospitals, schools, and roads on time and on budget.
“We’re going to need over 100,000 workers over the next ten years. These are good jobs often with pension, benefits and bigger paycheques,” added McNaughton. “When you have a job as an electrician, you have an in-demand job for life. I continue to hear from students and parents who don’t know how to enter this incredible field – which can pay over $50 an hour. That is why our government is investing over $1.5 billion in programs like this, which break down barriers and connect young people to life-changing careers in the skilled trades.”
Tuesday’s investment was pegged to go to nine projects across Ontario. Two of the projects are being delivered by the Ontario Electrical Industry Training Trust Fund who are training nearly 300 people for jobs as construction and industrial electricians and cabling specialists. The training focuses on safety, best practices for installation, and other skills crucial skills for electricians. At the end of the program, participants will be offered employment as the first step toward securing well-paying, meaningful careers to build better lives for themselves and their families.
“This funding announcement will help apprentices access the best training possible to address the growing need by employers for Network Cabling Specialists,” said James Barry, Executive Secretary Treasurer, IBEW CCO. “As technology continues to evolve, this in-demand trade not only provides a fulfilling career for young people and underrepresented populations, but their skills will be critical to helping build and sustain Ontario’s infrastructure well into the future. I commend Minister McNaughton for continuing to promote high training and safety standards in the skilled trades.”
The government’s investment will also go toward financial incentives that encourage employers to hire more apprentices and promote the electrical trades to underrepresented groups. The funding is part of Ontario’s over $200 million Skills Development Fund, launched to support innovative training projects that upskill workers and connect them to lucrative careers in their communities.
Data suggest the need to replace retiring workers is elevated in the skilled trades. In 2016, nearly 1 in 3 journeypersons were aged 55 years or older.
Between July 2021 and September 2021, there were 338,835 job vacancies (unfilled jobs) in Ontario. About 8% (25,495) of all vacancies in Ontario were in the construction sector.
Construction electricians earned an average hourly wage of $34.32 in Ontario in 2021, industrial electricians $36.12, electrical powerline and cable workers $38.90, and power systems electricians $47.21.
