Amid an ongoing push by the Ontario government to get more young people into the skilled trades, the province is reporting a significant increase in apprenticeship registrations.
The government announced on Tuesday that registrations for skilled trade apprenticeships have increased by 24 per cent in the last year, from 21,971 to 27,319. There was also a 28 per cent jump in registrations among women.
“There is as much merit in being an electrician or a carpenter as there is in being an architect or a lawyer. I’m thrilled more young people are waking up to the promise of good pay, pensions, and purpose-driven work that the skilled trades offer,” said Labour Minister Monte McNaughton.
In total, there were 91,634 apprentices active in Ontario as of April 3, 2023.
The province said there is a growing need to fill jobs in the skilled trades. At least one in three workers in Ontario with an apprenticeship or trade certificate is aged 55 or over and nearing retirement. According to the provincial government, Ontario will need over 100,000 new skilled trades workers within the next ten years.