Ontario (November 7, 2019) – This week marks National Skilled Trades and Technology Week, a key date that promotes and encourages the exploration of career opportunities in the skilled trades and technologies.
As an organization that encourages youth to explore careers in the skilled trades and technologies, and works toward filling the employment gap in these professions, Skills Ontario is proud to celebrate this significant week. Through programs that offer experiential learning, mentorship opportunities, and connections to employment, Skills Ontario recognizes the importance of introducing youth to the opportunities in the skilled trades and technologies and addresses the shortage of skilled professionals.
“Professionals in the skilled trades and technologies are in high demand and will continue to be,” says Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario. “It’s incredibly important to not only demonstrate this to our province’s youth, but also to give them the tools to explore and pursue these rewarding careers. There are great and rewarding opportunities in these career fields, and recognizing and celebrating National Skilled Trades and Technology Week is one of the many essential ways to support our province’s future.”
This week, Skills Ontario is hosting Cardboard Boat Races, which allow elementary and high school students to develop their design, construction, and teamwork skills as they build and race boats out of cardboard and duct tape. Later this month, Skills Ontario is hosting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Trades & Tech Days and Young Women’s Career Exploration Events, which give young audiences the opportunity to learn more about their career paths in the skilled trades and technologies through a tailored and experiential approach.
Skills Ontario also applauds the Government of Ontario’s emphasis on skilled trade career promotion. As Minister of Finance Rod Phillips stated in the November 6th Financial Economic Statement, one in five new jobs in Ontario over the next five years is expected to be in the trades.
Skills Ontario has long been calling for more skilled trade and tech programs in schools, and it is a pleasure to see the government taking action on increased funding of Ontario’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, recently announced an investment to support the expansion of the SHSM program to include an additional 122 new programs related to 19 different sectors aimed at encouraging more high school students to enter the skilled trades. As stated in the official news release from the Government of Ontario: “This high-demand program now lets more students have greater choice in selecting a career path that matches their skills and interests, while also meeting the requirements of their high school diploma.”
Skills Ontario is proud to celebrate National Skilled Trades and Technology Week and will continue to work with government and industry partners to allow youth to recognize their potential in these lucrative careers.
Skills Ontario – Promoting skilled trades and technologies in Ontario since 1989
Over the last 30 years, Skills Ontario has been growing a portfolio of programs including in-school presentations reaching 125,000 students across Ontario, career exploration summer camps, Young Women’s and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Career Exploration Conferences, and annually hosting Canada’s largest skills competition which attracts 37,000+ spectators who cheerlead the 2,400+ competitors in 68+ trades and tech categories. To see how you can partner with Skills Ontario and help make a difference in the lives of Ontario’s youth, visit skillsontario.com/get-involved.
