Ontario is facing the largest labour shortage in a generation with nearly 400,000 jobs going unfilled, costing billions in lost productivity.
Every paycheque not collected is a missed opportunity for a worker and their family to start a better life.
That is why our government is taking action by investing in innovative training projects that prepare people for meaningful careers in their communities.
To date, our Skills Development Fund has delivered 388 training projects, helping more than 393,000 people around the province take the next step in their careers.
As part of our plan to build a stronger Ontario that works for everyone, we are prioritizing programs helping people with prior involvement in the criminal justice system, and applications for projects preparing workers for well-paying jobs in in-demand sectors such as the skilled trades, healthcare, technology and manufacturing.
Applications open on September 29, 2022 and will close January 31, 2023. Today’s announcement brings Ontario’s total investment in the Skills Development Fund to over $560 million. Organizations interested in finding out more or submitting a project are encouraged to visit Ontario.ca/SkillsDevelopment
With over $2 billion in ambitious infrastructure projects on the horizon, we need to ensure our workforce is ready to meet that demand to build and maintain our roads, hospitals and schools for Ontario’s growing population.