The Ontario government has announced an investment of more than $6 million to fund two projects that will train more than 1,000 carpenters.

The first project, managed by the Carpenters’ Regional Council (CRC), will receive more than $5.5 million to train over 750 jobseekers and apprentices with a combination of on-the-job training and in-class learning, including preparing for their Certificate of Qualification Red Seal exams.

"This investment will continue to fund crucial programs that will continue to grow Ontario’s skilled trades workforce, including the Carpenters’ Union’s Job Readiness Program and Red Seal Exam Prep Program,” said CRC’s director of training, Adam Bridgman. “The support these programs have garnered has led to over 500 new workers starting an apprenticeship and over 250 existing apprentices challenging their Red Seal exam with confidence."

The second project, led by the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades will, receive just under $900,000 to deliver upskilling programs up to 312 jobseekers in carpentry skills related to formwork and scaffolding, which are essential in non-residential construction and which are also experiencing an acute labour shortage across Ontario.

“Our plan to keep rebuilding Ontario’s economy starts with investing in workers so they can find better jobs with bigger paycheques right here in our province,” said Premier Doug Ford. “By helping workers train for jobs in fast-growing sectors like carpentry, we’re also ensuring employers have the workers they need to continue growing their businesses and investing in Ontario’s economy.”

With approximately 1,200 carpentry vacancies across Ontario, the projects will train over 1,000 jobseekers in carpentry fields facing acute labour shortages.

Funding for the programs is being provided through the Skills Development Fund (SDF), and brings Ontario’s total investment in skills development training through SDF to nearly $1.1 billion.

Since its launch in 2021, the fund has helped almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including over 66,000 construction workers, over 92,000 manufacturing workers and over 36,000 PSWs and health-care workers.

More than 420,000 of these participants are expected to be from an underrepresented group such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, racialized groups and Indigenous peoples.