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Ottawa— Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, during a keynote speech delivered at the Building Meaning Project National Roundtable organized by Cardus, reiterated that a career in the skilled trades is just as valuable as going to university and getting an academic degree. He explained that employers, unions, educators and governments need to work together in order to make a compelling case to young Canadians for a future in the skilled trades, where more workers will be needed to ensure Canada’s continued economic growth.
Minister Kenney outlined the Government’s plan to help Canadians get the skills they need for in-demand jobs in the trades. He highlighted the Government’s initiatives and investments related to skills training and apprenticeships, which include the creation of the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant and the Apprenticeship Completion Grant that together represent $4,000 available to students who go through their apprenticeship programs and the Canada Job Grant, an innovative, employer-driven approach that leads to a guaranteed job in the trades.
According to the Conference Board of Canada, Ontario is losing out on as much as $24.3 billion in economic activity and $3.7 billion in provincial tax revenues annually because employers cannot find people with the skills they need in their businesses.
According to Colleges and Institutes Canada, in less than 10 years, employers will not be able to find qualified candidates for 1.5 million job openings.
In the next 10 years, Canada is expected to need 300,000 new workers in the construction sector and 145,000 new workers in the mining sector. Canada will also need another 150,000 new workers in the petroleum sector by 2020.
“The Government of Canada’s top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians. Through measures like the Canada Job Grant, the Canada Apprentice Loan and apprenticeship grants, the Government of Canada is helping Canadians get well-paying jobs and helping employers get the skilled workforce they need. I encourage young people to pursue a future in the skilled trades if they want rewarding, valuable and well-paying careers,” said Kenney.
This story originally appeared on The Weekly Voice.
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