Niagara College, homebuilders to lead drywall, roofing training program
The Ontario government has announced funding for a skilled-trades training program in Niagara Region that aims to connect unemployed and underemployed people with jobs as roofers and drywall installers.
Labour, Training and Skills Development Minister Monte McNaughton announced funding of $1.2 million for the program on April 19. The initiative is being run as a partnership between Niagara College and the Niagara Homebuilders Association (NHBA).
“All across our province, we continue to see a shortage of workers in the skilled trades, for many life-long careers that pay six figures with defined benefits and pensions,” said McNaughton. “These unfilled jobs cost our economy billions in lost productivity and mean families are waiting longer for the goods and services they need.”
Up to 80 program participants will receive their technical training at the School of Trades at Niagara College, where they can pursue either roofing or drywall installation based on their interests. For eight weeks participants will take courses on health and safety, tools and techniques, and other skills specific to their trades.
Each participant will get a hard hat, steel-toed safety boots, safety glasses, and professional-grade tools they need to perform their training – all of which they get to keep. They will then transition to a six-week paid job placement with a local employer in the community. Employers are eligible for up to $5,000 per participant to offset wages paid.
“Studies show that as many as one-in-five jobs within the province of Ontario will be in the skilled trades by the year 2025,” said NHBA President Richard Lawrence. “This program will allow the NHBA and Niagara College to develop and train students with the skills they need in order to be job site ready to work their way into building a stable career, while filling the void of the 100,000 workers our industry needs over the next decade.”
The project is funded by Ontario’s $200-million Skills Development Fund.