Breaking News - Tariff Support - The Chamber is your source for Tariff Updates. Check out our page for the latest Tariff Resources, SUpport & Events
Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Host a Chamber Event
    • Monthly >
      • The Business Exchange (TBX)
      • ChamberAM
      • Not-for-Profit Group (NFP)
    • Annual >
      • Luminary Awards
      • Seniors Showcase
      • PK Excellence
    • Campaigns and Connections >
      • Sales Lead Network
      • 26 Coffees
      • #lovelocalptbokawarthas campaign
    • 26 Coffees Program
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Benefits >
      • Chambers Plan
    • Profile and Sponsorships
    • Resources
    • Members Only
  • News
    • Voice of Business Podcast
    • Voice of Business
    • The Business Beat
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Resource Hub
  • Directory
  • Advocacy
    • Policy Resolutions
    • Advocacy at Work
    • Advocacy Wins
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Breaking News - Tariff Support
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • Support
    • Trade Analytics
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Host a Chamber Event
    • Monthly >
      • The Business Exchange (TBX)
      • ChamberAM
      • Not-for-Profit Group (NFP)
    • Annual >
      • Luminary Awards
      • Seniors Showcase
      • PK Excellence
    • Campaigns and Connections >
      • Sales Lead Network
      • 26 Coffees
      • #lovelocalptbokawarthas campaign
    • 26 Coffees Program
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Benefits >
      • Chambers Plan
    • Profile and Sponsorships
    • Resources
    • Members Only
  • News
    • Voice of Business Podcast
    • Voice of Business
    • The Business Beat
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Resource Hub
  • Directory
  • Advocacy
    • Policy Resolutions
    • Advocacy at Work
    • Advocacy Wins
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Breaking News - Tariff Support
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • Support
    • Trade Analytics

Province launches Skilled Trades Ontario to grow our skilled trades workforce

2/3/2022

 
Picture
Ontario has been in need of more skilled trades workers for many years, but the urgency is increasing as our trades will play a critical role in our economic recovery.
Despite the pandemic and all of the supply chain issues, increases in material costs, and other disruptions it has brought, a lack of skilled labourers could be the biggest barrier ahead for the construction 
industry. Even current homeowners who have been trying to hire workers to perform renovations and repairs can attest to the difficulty of hiring contractors on any reasonably short timeline.
The Government of Ontario is taking a new approach to skilled trades with a new agency called Skilled Trades Ontario, effectively a replacement for the Ontario College of Trades. The role of this agency is to promote and market the trades, develop the latest training and curriculum standards, and provide a streamlined user-friendly experience for tradespeople. 
The agency will offer an online service that will help apprentices manage their careers in a central place that includes scheduling classes and exams, submitting forms, and paying fees. It is also expected to reduce 
processing and registration from 60 days down to 12. Enforcement has shifted to the Ministry of Labour, 
Training and Skills Development.
According to the Government of Ontario, one in five jobs will be in the trades by 2025. They also note that the previous Ontario College of Trades had a discouraging effect on people entering the trades with registrations dropping by 40%. The average age for an apprentice is currently 29 years old. The Province expects retirements to be a big challenge in the near future, noting in 2016 nearly one in three journeypersons were age 55 or older. It’s estimated that Ontario could be short as many as 350,000 skilled workers by 2025.
The new agency is being received with optimism by a number of industry stakeholders, unions and associations.
It’s reassuring to see more investment in encouraging people to pursue a career in the trades. The need for more skilled workers predates the pandemic. Some of the barriers around access have been addressed while a concerted effort from our governments, schools, and industry 
associations is having a positive impact on 
addressing the stigma around trades jobs. 
The needs of the modern tradesperson have changed as well. There is a need for proficiency with the latest technology and an 
understanding of issues and opportunities around climate change.
There is still a long way to go in filling the need for skilled workers. The 
pandemic has exacerbated our labour issues into a shortage across sectors and industries. Young people entering the workforce have a lot of options on what direction to take their career.
Our leaders continue to plan for our recovery from this pandemic and one of the recurring themes is the need for people. The issue isn’t that there are scores of people unwilling to join the workforce. While some have removed themselves from the workforce for various reasons, our employment participation rate in 
Peterborough is higher than it was before the pandemic. 
The people shortage appears to be a symptom of desire for growth. Nowhere is this more apparent than construction. We can't build quick enough to meet 
demand, from homes to public infrastructure projects to new industrial and 
commercial developments. We’re struggling to find enough people to produce the materials we need, offload them in ports and railyards, process them in warehouses, and transport them where they need to go — and that’s just getting to the point of starting construction.
Investments in a skilled workforce were needed before COVID took our economy for a roller coaster ride and they're even more important now as we try to recover. Hopefully Skilled Trades Ontario is able to make good on its mandate and assist in developing the skilled workforce we need. We won’t make up for the shortage of skilled workers over night, but we’re 
heading in the right 
direction. 

Comments are closed.

    Author

    The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce acts as a catalyst to enhance business growth, opportunity, innovation, partnerships and a diverse business community. 

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.  ​All rights reserved.
175 George Street North, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G6
Phone: (705) 748-9771  |  (705) 743-2331  
Home    |    Calendar    |   Site Map   |    Privacy    |    Accessibility
Join the Chamber
Picture
MemberClicks