Labour minister blames temporary foreign workers for youth unemployment challenges
Ontario is stepping up its campaign to attract more young people and jobseekers to the skilled trades, launching its most ambitious Level Up! career fairs to date.
This year’s initiative will see the fairs expand from 21 to 29 days, taking place in 12 communities across the province between September and December. Organizers expect more than 50,000 students, parents, and jobseekers to participate, making it the largest effort yet to showcase the province’s 144 skilled trades.
“Level Up! is designed to really tackle, historically, stigmas associated with the trades,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, in a recent interview with CP24, citing the “interactive opportunities.”
And that makes a lot of sense right now with Prime Minister Mark Carney set to announce five “nation-building” projects for Canada, he said.
Challenges for youth with temporary foreign workers
Piccini cited the challenges for many young workers, with high unemployment, telling CP24 it’s “the greatest concern” facing Canada right now.
“We're working on getting them real skills to develop a resilient workforce and to give them meaningful career opportunities. And we know in the trades, they're incredibly rewarding careers.”
But Piccini also connected youth joblessness to immigration issues: “There’s no question that when you see things like temporary foreign worker jobs posted in certain professions that you just scratch your head and wonder how that's happening. So, we want to see a real look at that, a reduction in the number of temporary residents that are entering Canada.”
He cited, as an example, a Subway in Campbellford that launched an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) for a temporary foreign worker, for a job that paid in the $30,000 range: “Any youth in our community would be screaming for [that] so I think they need to take a good long look at that.”
Hands-on introduction to trades
The Level Up! career fairs are designed to give students in grades 7 to 12, along with their families and other jobseekers, a hands-on introduction to trades ranging from electricians and boilermakers to heavy equipment operators and automotive service technicians. Over 200 interactive exhibitors will be on hand, offering demonstrations, open house sessions, and opportunities for direct conversations with tradespeople and employers.
Last year, nearly 45,000 people attended the fairs, and this year’s expanded schedule aims to build on that momentum as Ontario faces both economic uncertainty in the face of U.S. tariffs and a looming shortage of skilled workers, said the government.
The Level Up! fairs will visit communities including Grafton, Barrie, Sudbury, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Hamilton, London, Oshawa, Mississauga, Kingston, and Ottawa. Students interested in attending are encouraged to contact their school’s Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) recruiter, a teacher, or guidance counsellor to register.
Demand for skilled trades in Ontario
As demand for skilled trades continues to rise—one in five new job openings in Ontario is projected to be in trades-related occupations by 2028—the Ontario government has invested $1.5 billion through the Skills Development Fund, helping train over one million workers for in-demand jobs.
The 2025 Budget commits nearly $1 billion more over the next three years, bringing the total to $2.5 billion to support key sectors and expand access to high-quality careers. This year alone, 16,412 youth aged 15 to 24 have registered for apprenticeships, the highest number in a decade, said the government.
Piccini also acknowledged the stigma facing the trades, with many people told they must attend university or college for a fulfilling career — instead of skilled trades.
“We need these skill sets. AI is not going to affect your plumber, your pipe fitter, your steam fitter. We need these people,” he told CP24.
“We need the talent pipeline to get that job done. So, without question, it's about exposing youth, and that's why we launched Level Up!”
Organizations interested in supporting the Level Up! career fairs as exhibitors or sponsors can reach out to [email protected] or visit levelupontario.ca for more details.
