Careers in Skilled Trades
MINISTER DAVID PICCINI ON Building Ontario’s Future Trades Workforce
Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development outlines how early outreach, expanded training, and apprenticeships are reshaping the trades.
What is the Ministry doing to make skilled trades more attractive to young Ontarians?
Our government is making the skilled trades a first-choice career for young people, not a fallback. Through LevelUp!, Ontario’s largest skilled trades career fair, we support students directly by providing them with hands on learning and connecting them with employers and tradespeople. More than 50,000 students, parents, and educators have already attended this year, and the impact is clear: apprenticeships are up 18 per cent since 2018, now at their highest level in a decade, and youth registrations in the skilled trades have more than doubled over the past two years.
How is Ontario tackling the skilled trades labour shortage?
With one in three tradespeople expected to retire within the next decade, Ontario is acting now to build a new generation of skilled workers. Through the Skills Development Fund, the province has invested $1.5 billion, with an additional $1 billion over the next three years to expand training opportunities and help more people launch
How have you seen opportunities for women in the trades evolve over time?
When I first started, I rarely saw other women on site. It could feel isolating at times, but over the years, I’ve seen a major shift. More companies are actively encouraging women to join the trades, and there’s a growing network of support and mentorship out there. Social media has played a huge role in that change, and it has made the trades more visible and created a community where
careers in the trades. Working with industry and training providers, we are delivering pathways that connect jobseekers to good paying jobs. In fact, Ontario announced an additional $159 million in Budget 2025 to increase the number of training spots available; including an additional 7,800 new spots in colleges, universities, union training halls, and Indigenous Institutes. We are also expanding Skills Ontario’s Trades and Tech Trucks program from four to six mobile tech classrooms by August 2026, giving an additional 75,000 young people access to simulators, tools and interactive learning stations.
How is the government working with industry and schools to grow apprenticeships?
Ontario is widening the path for more apprentices to get to work. By adding up to 12, 000 new apprenticeship seats over the next three years we are helping apprentices access in-class training faster and gain realworld experience on job sites faster while moving into in-demand careers. Programs like the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program introduce students to the trades and
guides their interest from a young age. To break down financial barriers and open clear pathways into the trades, Ontario has waived classroom fees for Level 1 apprentices; and, gotten rid of the Certificate of Qualification exam fee. In addition, we introduced a tools grant, a non-repayable, taxable cash grant available for Ontario apprentices to help pay for trade-related tools and equipment.
What steps are being taken to promote diversity in the skilled trades workforce?
The challenges women and underrepresented groups face in the skilled trades goes beyond skills and dedication, its about creating environments that are built with these people in mind. To create these environments, Ontario has introduced Working for Workers legislation that makes job sites safer and more accessible, with requirements for properly fitting personal protective equipment and mandatory washroom cleaning standards.
By opening these pathways to all Ontarians, we are building the skilled workforce needed to keep pace with growth and helping ensure Ontario remains one of the best places to live, work and build a future.
KARLY THE SPARKY ON Empowering the Next
Generation of Tradeswomen
Electrician and mentor Karly the Sparky shares her journey, breaking barriers and inspiring young people — especially women — to join the trades.
women can share their experiences, connect, and inspire others to get involved. It’s becoming more normalized to see women running jobs, owning businesses, and teaching apprentices.
What’s one misconception about being an electrician that you’d like to clear up? People often assume electricians just pull wire all day, but there’s so much more to the trade. Electrical work is unique because it blends technical knowledge with hands-on skill. It requires a strong understanding of design, safety, and code, as well as the ability to adapt when plans change on site. One day might involve roughing in a new build, and the next could be troubleshooting a
complex system or upgrading a service. No two days are the same, and that variety is what makes the trade so rewarding. It’s challenging, creative, and constantly evolving and there is always something new to learn.
What advice would you give to young people considering a trade career today?
Don’t overthink it… just start. The best way to learn is by doing, and you’ll figure out if it’s right for you along the way. The trades offer stability, independence, and a real sense of purpose. And if you’re willing to put in the work, the opportunities are truly endless.
