The Ontario government has announced an investment of $64.2 million over the next three years to expand in-class skilled trades apprenticeship training.

“We need to keep building, no matter what global challenges come our way, to deliver on our $200-billion plan to build more infrastructure like highways, hospitals and schools,” said Labour Minister David Piccini. “By expanding access to in-class training and removing barriers, we’re helping more apprentices gain the skills they need for good-paying jobs, while protecting them in the face of U.S. tariffs.”

The investment, through the In-Class Enhancement Fund (IEF), will create up to 4,000 new training seats each year, helping apprentices access in-class training faster while covering their $10-per-day Level 1 classroom fees.

The province is also examining ways to increase apprenticeship hiring on publicly funded infrastructure projects and construction sites, and working with Skilled Trades Ontario to expand testing, allowing apprentices to book Certificate of Qualification exams at certified testing centres closer to home.

“This investment is exactly what Ontario’s skilled trades workforce needs right now,” said Marc Arsenault, Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer, Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario. “Expanding in-class training capacity means more apprentices can start and finish their programs on time, with fewer financial and logistical barriers. It’s a smart, practical step that ensures major infrastructure projects are built by a well-trained, local workforce. Our members are ready to build Ontario’s future, and this kind of support helps get them on the tools faster and safer."

New apprenticeship registrations in Ontario increased by over 7.3 per cent to 28,875 in 2024–2025 – the highest in a decade. This includes an increase of over 13.5 per cent to 16,412 among youth aged 15 to 24 in 2024-2025.

Meanwhile, approximately one in three workers in Ontario with an apprenticeship certificate as their highest credential are nearing retirement, and about one in eight job openings in Ontario are forecast to be in skilled trades-related occupations by 2029.

The IEF is part of the $159.3 million commitment announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario to strengthen skilled trades programs.

Since 2020, Ontario has invested over $2.1 billion in the skilled trades. This includes investments in skilled trades related projects under the Skills Development Fund Training Stream.