The Ontario government has dipped into its Skills Development Fund again, this time providing more than $3.6 million to support for four training projects and one building expansion project in Hamilton’s construction sector.

The investments will provide free training for up to 3,800 apprentices, journeypersons and jobseekers, preparing them for careers in jobs such as millwright, welding and electrical trades.

“Our government is giving workers in Hamilton the support and skills training they need to find good-paying, in-demand jobs,” said Premier Doug Ford. “By continuing to invest in our Skills Development Fund, including the brand-new SDF capital stream, we’re also helping build up Ontario’s labour force so we can support provincial businesses and attract new investment, better jobs and bigger paycheques for Ontario workers.”

The funding is being provided to four organizations.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 105 will receive $2,388,405 for two training projects to help a total of 80 unemployed or underemployed, disadvantaged or underrepresented people gain entry-level electrical skills and safety training as well as Red Seal electricians looking to upskill and obtain their welding certificate in Hamilton and the surrounding area.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 1916 (operating as Millwright Local 1916) receives $797,953 for a project to provide 125 millwrights, apprentices and journeypersons with training on the latest technology used on jobsites, including on optical levels and shaft alignment lasers. Training will also be provided to jobseekers, youth, women, recent immigrants and Indigenous peoples in Hamilton as well as Grey, Bruce, Brant and Waterloo counties.

The International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers Local 736 will receive $178,460 for a project to help up to 50 ironworker apprentices, journeypersons, jobseekers, women, Indigenous peoples, youth and others gain welding skills and to support the purchase and outfitting of four new welding booths at the Local 736 training facility.

Finally, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 1916 (operating as Millwright Local 1916) receives $248,338.86 for a project to build a new mezzanine level to improve Local 1916’s existing training centre in Hamilton. The project will increase available space for training by as much as 20%, growing Local 1916’s capacity for apprenticeship programs and training certifications for safety training and technical and leadership skills, including for welding and optical and laser alignment. Up to 3,545 members are expected to benefit from the increased training capability over the next six years in construction millwright and industrial mechanic trades.

“As Ontario continues to grow, we need to attract more people into the skilled trades,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our government has achieved impressive results for workers and jobseekers by working closely with labour and industry partners.”

Over the next decade, the province expects that more than 500,000 additional workers will be needed in skilled trades-related occupations in Ontario.

Specifically, nearly 1,100 additional iron workers, over 14,600 additional electricians, nearly 9,500 additional construction millwrights and industrial mechanics and over 9,000 additional welders will be needed in Ontario due to retirements and job growth. About 11,800 of these job openings are expected to be in Central Ontario, which includes the Hamilton-Niagara area.

Since its launch, the training stream of the Skills Development Fund has supported more than 700 training projects. The fund itself, meanwhile, has supported projects that are helping almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including over 66,000 construction workers.