Overview

An apprenticeship is a pathway to a rewarding career in the trades. As an apprentice, you take classes and learn your trade by working under the direction of experienced journeypersons – and get paid while you do it.

There are currently 144 designated trades in Ontario. For more information, see the full list of trades.

On August 24, 2020, we appointed youth advisors to provide advice and recommendations to the minister about how to engage more young people (under 30 years of age) in the skilled trades and address the stigma associated with pursuing a career in the skilled trades.

The youth advisors focus on four key areas:

  • break the stigma associated with pursuing a career in the skilled trades
  • identify the barriers preventing youth from underrepresented groups entering the skilled trades and explore strategies to encourage their participation
  • improve access into apprenticeship
  • support the retention of apprentices and successful completion of an apprenticeship program

To inform recommendations, the youth advisors want to hear from you – educators, students, apprentices, journeypersons, parents, employers and others who want to share their opinion and experiences on how we can better encourage and prepare more young people to pursue a career in the skilled trades.

Your privacy matters

Your personal information is being collected to help us understand your experiences in the skilled trades and apprenticeship system. By participating you will be asked to provide feedback on your experiences.

Should you wish to provide your personal contact information, the youth advisors may invite you to a virtual consultation. Some of the non-identifying information shared will be used the youth advisors and the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to analyze feedback and by the Ontario Digital Service to measure performance and improve our services.

Your information will not be placed on mailing lists or released to any third party, except as may be authorized by law. For questions on how personal information collected on this page will be used, please see our Privacy Statement.