Province looking to prepare 12,000 apprentices for in-demand skilled trades jobs
The Ontario government is investing $64.2 million over the next three years to expand in-class apprenticeship training.
With this move, the provincial government aims to prepare up to 12,000 apprentices for in-demand skilled trades jobs across the province.
“We need to keep building, no matter what global challenges come our way, to deliver on our $200 billion plan to build more infrastructure like highways, hospitals and schools,” says David Piccini, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. “By expanding access to in-class training and removing barriers, we’re helping more apprentices gain the skills they need for good-paying jobs, while protecting them in the face of U.S. tariffs.”
This investment, through the In-Class Enhancement Fund (IEF), will create up to 4,000 new training seats each year, helping apprentices access in-class training faster while covering their $10-per-day Level 1 classroom fees, according to the Ontario government.
In September, Ontario stepped up its campaign to attract more young people and jobseekers to the skilled trades, launching its most ambitious Level Up! career fairs to date.
The Ontario government is also working with Skilled Trades Ontario to expand testing options, allowing apprentices to book Certificate of Qualification exams at certified testing centres closer to home, with flexible scheduling. This initiative is expected to reduce travel, minimise time away from work, and help apprentices get certified and advance their careers more efficiently.
“This investment is exactly what Ontario’s skilled trades workforce needs right now,” said Marc Arsenault, Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer, Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario. “Expanding in-class training capacity means more apprentices can start and finish their programs on time, with fewer financial and logistical barriers. It’s a smart, practical step that ensures major infrastructure projects are built by a well-trained, local workforce.”
‘Strengthening apprenticeship training’
The IEF is part of a $159.3 million commitment announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, and builds on more than $2.1 billion invested in skilled trades since 2020. The fund complements other provincial initiatives, such as the $18 million Apprentice Development Benefit, and supports a growing pipeline of skilled workers as apprenticeship registrations in Ontario reached a decade high of 28,875 in 2024–2025.
Candice White, CEO of Skilled Trades Ontario, said: “This investment will make a real difference for apprentices across Ontario. Expanding access to in-class training means more people can complete their programs and start their careers faster. Skilled Trades Ontario welcomes the government’s continued commitment to strengthening apprenticeship training and supporting a highly skilled, job-ready workforce.”
According to the Ontario government, about one in eight job openings in the province are forecast to be in skilled trades-related occupations by 2029, while one in three workers with an apprenticeship certificate as their highest credential are nearing retirement. The province is also hosting Level Up! career fairs to connect students, parents, and jobseekers with opportunities in the skilled trades.
Recently, Nova Scotia announced it is eliminating the five-year certification renewal requirement for most skilled trades professionals and reducing exam challenge fees by nearly half, as part of efforts to reduce administrative barriers and costs in the sector. The province removed the renewal requirement for journeypersons in 13 compulsory trades, including plumbers, construction electricians and boilermakers, and two non-compulsory trades. Only the blaster trade will continue requiring renewals due to mandatory re-certification training. The change is expected to save certified professionals $73.53 every five years and eliminate associated paperwork.
