Amid economic uncertainty and skilled trades shortages, Skills Ontario is recommending continued provincial investment in skilled trades and technology promotion, training and programming ahead of Ontario’s 2026 budget. Skills Ontario recognizes and applauds the government’s commitment to building the province’s future workforce.
“Ontario’s skilled professionals continue to be critical to keeping our economy, our health care system and our society operating,” said Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario. “With the support and partnership of the provincial government, we are making a difference by dispelling myths and improving the image of skilled professions. More people now better understand how essential these careers are.”
Skills Ontario is recommending multiyear commitments to expand efforts that encourage youth to pursue careers in skilled trades and technologies, including the following:
Funding to support development of a permanent skilled trades and technology exploration facility to highlight careers and provide a training venue for competitors.
Increased support for the Skills Ontario Competition, the largest of its kind in Canada.
Increased funding for the Skills Development Fund.
The skilled trades shortage is costing Ontario an estimated $25 billion in lost gross domestic product. A Conference Board of Canada study found the province will need more than 500,000 new entrants to the skilled trades by 2030 to meet demand.
Key sectors of Ontario’s economy continue to face growing workforce needs, including manufacturing, health and safety, advanced IT and construction. The construction sector alone is projecting a shortfall of more than 100,000 skilled trades workers over the next decade.
In a letter to Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, Skills Ontario also called on the province to continue supporting Ontario’s public colleges through increased funding to sustain existing infrastructure and strengthen skilled trades and technology training to meet labor market demands.
