As an increasing number of baby boomers retire, Ontario could face a skilled trades shortage of 560,000 workers by 2030.

Ontario is presently facing a workforce challenge unlike any before with massive layoffs in the manufacturing and forestry sectors as well as the impending skilled labour shortage, which threatens dire economic repercussions. 

Currently, the 60,000 students enrolled annually in college apprenticeship programs will not be enough to compensate for the number of retiring workers. By 2025, it is believed that Ontario could be short in excess of 360,000 skilled employees while the number could reach as high as one million nationally in that same time frame.

“The skills shortage is already hurting sectors like tourism, construction ad information technology,” said president of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association, Terry Mundell.

“It’s vital that business, labour, education and government come together to find solutions before the problem intensifies. We need to ensure that young people, older workers and new Canadians get the skills and training they need and that Ontario depends upon.”

 The recent Ontario budget also focuses on the skilled trades shortage with the introduction of a three-year $1.5-billion Skills and Jobs Action Plan.

“The plan will strengthen long-term economic productivity, while stimulating investment and job growth today, and move us to a greener, more sustainable future,” said Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan of the plan.

The first step to addressing the skilled trades shortage is to change the public perception that learning a trade is less valuable than a university education. Trade workers' service to the economy is invaluable and if this perception is not changed, then Ontario will surely pay the price.