Ontario Introducing Over 35,000 Students to Careers in Skilled Trades
September 12, 2024
Expansion of career fairs to 15 cities giving next generation of workers hands-on exposure to the trades
The Ontario government is expanding its successful Level Up! skilled trades career fairs to more cities this fall, introducing over 35,000 students to exciting, in-demand careers in the trades. For the third year in a row, these fairs are helping find and inspire the next generation of workers to build the homes, highways, hospitals, schools, and community infrastructure the province needs. The new cities with career fairs will include Barrie, Cobourg, Cornwall, Kitchener, Niagara Falls, North Bay, and South Porcupine (near Timmins).
“Last year, we doubled our Level Up! Career Fairs, giving thousands of students, parents and teachers a glimpse into the rewarding careers in the skilled trades – and this year, our Level Up! Career Fairs are bigger than ever,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By expanding these career fairs to seven new cities across the province, we will be able to give over 35,000 students the chance to learn about the most cutting-edge, in-demand careers in the country, with interactive exhibits that offer safe, hands-on learning opportunities. I invite everyone to visit our career fairs, learn about the trades and help us build a better future.”
Level Up! is a series of dynamic, multi-day career fairs highlighting the 144 skilled trades, including automotive service technicians, boilermakers, and carpenters. Over 35,000 students in grades 7 to 12, as well as parents and young jobseekers, will have the opportunity to learn about these trades through interactive exhibitions and safe, hands-on activities while hearing directly from tradespeople and local employers. The first fair kicks off on September 12 in Cobourg and will continue over the next 12 weeks in communities across the province.
“Over six decades ago, my grandparents started a local plumbing business in my hometown, and I saw firsthand how fulfilling and in-demand the skilled trades are,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. “For too long, not enough young people were getting the hands-on learning and exposure to the skilled trades — but thanks to events like Level Up! fairs and the work of our government, that is no longer the case. We’ve made it mandatory for all students to earn at least one Grade 9 or 10 technological education credit to graduate. We’re increasing pathways to apprenticeship with our new Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program – Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training program for senior high school students. I’m committed to make sure Ontario’s students know the skilled trades offer a viable and fantastic career path.”
The Level Up! Career Fairs are a part of the government’s plan to grow Ontario’s workforce by encouraging the next generation to start careers in the skilled trades and ensuring workers have the training and skills to build Ontario’s bright future. That includes the successful Skills Development Fund (SDF) which, in partnership with local employers and labour organizations, has helped nearly 600,000 people train or up-skill for in-demand careers in their community, including construction, manufacturing, and technology.
Quick Facts:
- The Level Up! skilled trades career fairs are open to all students. Last year, 30,680 students, parents, friends, and teachers visited the fairs.
- Grade 7 to 12 students interested in attending the career fairs are encouraged to contact their school board’s Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) recruiter, a teacher or school guidance counsellor to register.
- Organizations can support the Level Up! career fairs as potential exhibitors or sponsors. Interested organizations can contact Levelup@ontario.ca for more details.
- Roughly one in three workers in Ontario with an apprenticeship or trade certificate was aged 55 or over and nearing retirement in 2021.
- One in five new job openings in Ontario will be in the skilled trades-related occupations by 2028.
- Career fairs are taking place in 15 communities between September 12 and November 28, 2024:
- Coburg – September 12
- Barrie – September 17
- Kitchener – September 19
- Sault Ste. Marie – September 24
- Thunder Bay – September 26
- Sudbury – October 2
- South Porcupine – October 4
- Cornwall – October 8
- Ottawa – October 10 & 11
- North Bay – October 16
- Oshawa – October 22 to 24
- LaSalle – October 29
- London – November 12 & 13
- Niagara Falls – November 20 & 21
- Mississauga – November 26 to 28
- The Skills Development Fund Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Quotes:
“At Skilled Trades Ontario, we’re committed to showcasing the array of meaningful opportunities available in the skilled trades. The Level Up! Career Fairs allow students the chance to engage directly with these professions, providing them with practical insights and experiences that can shape their future career paths. These fairs not only highlight the possibilities within the skilled trades but also play a crucial role in building the workforce Ontario needs for the future.”
– Melissa Young
CEO and Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario
Related Story
Ontario Helping More Students Enter the Skilled Trades Faster
The Ontario government is preparing young people for in-demand and well-paying careers by allowing students in grade 11 to transition to a full-time, skilled trades apprenticeship program. Upon receiving their Certificate of Apprenticeship, these young workers can apply for their Ontario Secondary School Diploma as mature students. At a time when the province continues to face historic labour shortages, this change means that more students will be able to enter the trades faster than ever before to help build Ontario.
