Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced yesterday that the Government of Ontario will expand its Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program to include 122 new programs that are aimed at encouraging more high-school students to enter the skilled trades.

SHSM allows students in Grades 11 and 12 to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. It also assists in their transition after graduation to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace. SHSMs are available in a number of sectors, including construction, landscaping, manufacturing and mining.

As a result of the announced expansion, it is estimated that more than 54,000 students will be enrolled in over 2,100 SHSM programs in more than 700 secondary schools across the province.

The province estimates that by 2021, one in five new jobs in Ontario will be in trades-related occupations, with employers already facing a shortage of workers in key sectors.

"We know that a labour market shortage exists today and will rise over time in the high-paying skilled trades," said Minister Lecce. "My top priority is to ensure students get the skills they need."

"It's crucial we show young people that jobs in the trades are good-paying, exciting and very fulfilling," added Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. "By expanding the Specialist High Skills Major, students will learn about a variety of career paths through early and ongoing exposure and that's fantastic news for students across our province."

A complete list of participating school boards and the programs they offer is available at: www.edu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/SHSMcomplete.html.