Ontario Helping More Students Explore Rewarding Careers in the Skilled Trades

COBOURG — The Ontario government is kicking off its fifth annual Level Up! skilled trades career fairs to introduce students, families and jobseekers across Ontario to in-demand careers in the skilled trades. Through multi‑day events planned in 12 communities, the 2026 fairs are expected to reach more than 60,000 people and will include open house sessions and interactive exhibitions that will inspire the next generation of workers to build the homes, highways, hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure that the province needs.

“Parents and families play an important role in helping young people make decisions about their future, and we want them to see firsthand the opportunities available in the skilled trades,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “With more than 400,000 workers needed to fill skilled trades-related job openings over the next decade, Level Up! is helping connect the next generation with employers, training opportunities and rewarding careers that will help build Ontario.”

The Level Up! career fairs showcase dozens of Ontario’s 144 skilled trades through hands-on demonstrations, exhibits and conversations with employers, unions and training providers. The free community open houses give parents, guardians and jobseekers a firsthand look at the skilled trades and an opportunity to learn about apprenticeship pathways, skills training and good-paying career opportunities in the skilled trades.

The first Level Up! open house takes place today in Cobourg. All open houses are free and run from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• Cobourg — September 23
• Kingston — September 29
• Barrie — October 6
• Timmins — October 14
• Thunder Bay — October 21
• Sudbury — October 28
• Hamilton — November 3
• Windsor — November 11
• London — November 17
• Ottawa — November 24
• Oshawa — December 1
• Mississauga — December 8

Ontario now has more than 94,000 active apprentices, the highest number in more than a decade, as more people choose careers in the skilled trades. With experienced tradespeople retiring and demand continuing to grow, the province is also expanding the pathways that help more people enter and succeed in these careers. Funding for the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program and Apprenticeship Capital Grant is at record levels since the programs began, helping jobseekers gain hands-on experience while giving training providers the equipment and capacity to prepare more apprentices for the workplace.

By 2035, about one in six job openings in Ontario is expected to be in a skilled trades-related occupation. Through initiatives such as Level Up!, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program and Trade and Tech Trucks program, Ontario is working to engage 500,000 youth in the skilled trades by 2030, helping more young people explore rewarding careers while connecting employers with the next generation of skilled workers.

The Level Up! career fairs are part of the government’s ongoing plan to Protect Ontario by building a highly skilled and resilient workforce ready to meet growing demand. Through its $236 billion plan to build, Ontario is delivering critical infrastructure projects that communities rely on while connecting more people to well-paying careers.

• The Level Up! skilled trades career fairs are open to all students, parents, educators and job seekers.
• More than 58,000 people attended Level Up! career fairs in 2025, with attendance expected to exceed 60,000 in 2026.
• Since 2022, over 140,000 people have attended the Level Up! career fairs, with total attendance expected to surpass 200,000 by the end of 2026.
• Ontario is expected to need approximately 8,500 electricians, 7,200 millwrights, 6,300 welders and 850 ironworkers over the next decade to support critical infrastructure, energy projects and long-term growth.
• Organizations can support the Level Up! career fairs as potential exhibitors or sponsors, with more information available by emailing LevelUp@ontario.ca or visiting LevelUpOntario.ca.
• One in six job openings in Ontario will be in skilled trades-related occupations by 2035.
• This fall Ontario will also launch its annual Youth Video Contest, inviting high school students to create original videos that promote workplace health and safety awareness. The winning entry will receive a $2,000 prize and advance to a national competition. The Youth Video Contest will open October 1, 2026. For more information, visit Ontario.ca/YouthVideoContest.
• Through Budget 2025, the Ontario government invested $75 million to train up to 7,800 additional students at colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes across the province for in-demand jobs in construction and urban planning.
• In May, the Ontario government announced $1.7 billion to fund 70,000 more seats for in-demand programs at publicly assisted colleges and universities, including skilled trades. This is part of the government’s new long-term funding model, which will bring $6.4 billion to our colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes.
• Ontario has launched the 2026-2027 Call for Proposals for the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program to support new training projects with up to $21 million. From September 22 to October 27, 2026, eligible organizations can submit their proposals and apply for funding.