Ontario Investing More Than $8.6 Million to Support Women in the Skilled Trades

Press Release

October 22, 2025

Skills Development Fund will train more than 1,700 women in the GTA for in-demand jobs in the face of U.S. tariffs

TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government announced that it’s investing more than $8.6 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to help more than 1,700 women across the GTA access training and prepare for good-paying, in-demand jobs in the skilled trades. This funding is part of the government’s $2.5 billion investment in the SDF to protect workers by giving them the tools they need to land rewarding, good-paying jobs while keeping Ontario competitive in the face of U.S. tariffs.

“Ontario’s economy depends on the skill and determination of its workers, and we’re making sure women have every opportunity to be part of that success,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By investing over $8 million through the Skills Development Fund, we’re opening doors to good-paying careers in the skilled trades, breaking down barriers and helping more women gain the confidence, training and in-demand skills they need to build Ontario’s future.”

Minister Piccini made the announcement at IBEW 353 in North York, which is receiving $2,306,312 to expand the Pathway Program for Women & Indigenous Pre-Apprentices. Through the SDF, the Ontario government is also partnering with five organizations across the GTA to deliver training programs that break down barriers and open more doors for women to make the skilled trades more accessible to everyone. People interested in these programs are encouraged to contact the lead organizations directly:

Enercare Home Services is receiving $186,170 to deliver eight bootcamps across York Region for 240 young women in Grades 7 to 12. Each bootcamp will provide transportation, tools, safety equipment and educational materials, while offering hands-on experience and mentorship in electrical, plumbing and HVAC in a safe environment.
Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto is receiving $2,500,000 to provide racialized immigrant and refugee women with skills development training in project management, digital literacy and non-profit management. Participants will receive training stipends and employment counselling supports, including job interview practice and resume writing.
Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario is receiving $756,252 to support women in the skilled trades, by developing and delivering information sessions, courses in financial wellness and construction writing. Participants will receive in-person and online training for 40 weeks and be introduced to employers for jobs in the construction trades.
Brands for Canada is receiving $491,000 to empower young women to enter skilled trades jobs in the manufacturing sector through individualized and comprehensive training workshops, virtual modules, mentorship programs and industry placements.
The Career Foundation’s A Women’s Work is receiving $2,399,745 to train 260 women for in-demand careers in the skilled trades. Participants will receive hands-on training in areas such as tiling, drywall, framing, painting and roofing, along with comprehensive wraparound supports, including mentorship, self-esteem workshops and gender-focused training — setting them up for meaningful and lasting careers.

Since its launch in 2021, Ontario has invested $1.5 billion through the SDF Training Stream and Capital Stream aimed to help train more than one million workers for in-demand careers. As announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, the government is investing $1 billion more through the Skills Development Fund over the next three years, bringing the total to $2.5 billion, to support critical industries and make training accessible to even more workers.

Quick Facts

1.3 million people are working in skilled trades-related occupations in Ontario.
Over 390,000 women are working in the skilled trades in Ontario.
New female apprenticeship registrations in Ontario increased by over 11 per cent to 4,157 in 2024-2025.
Overall apprenticeship registrations were up by over 7 per cent, also a record number of registrations in the past decade.
Ontario is hosting Level Up! career fairs in communities across the province over 29 days, connecting an expected 50,000+ students, parents, and jobseekers with rewarding, in-demand careers in the skilled trades through hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations.
The SDF Training Stream rounds 1 to 5 are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. SDF Training round 6 is supported exclusively by the Government of Ontario.

Quotes

“The skilled trades have always been and will continue to be a critical part of our future as a province and as a country. Today’s announcement is another example of our government’s commitment to investing in the skilled trades and ensuring that everyone has access to the necessary training and resources. At a time when we face threats from the U.S., this timely investment will help ensure that we continue to support and empower women in the skilled trades.”
– Aris Babikian
Member of Provincial Parliament, Scarborough-Agincourt

“Women are essential to building the future of Ontario, and our government is committed to making careers in the critical trades sector more accessible for women and girls. Today’s investment, made through the Protect Ontario initiative, supports training programs that will help more women build their skills, explore careers in the trades, and gain the experience they need to find a job and achieve financial security for themselves and their families.”
– Charmaine Williams
Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity

“IBEW Local 353 is bettering and changing lives with its Pathway Program, in collaboration with Minister Piccini’s and the Province of Ontario government’s SDF funding. Pathways is an innovative project offering apprenticeship opportunities to women, youth at risk, Indigenous and those from all underrepresented groups.”
– Lee Caprio
Business Manager / Financial Secretary, IBEW 353

“Enercare thanks the Ontario government for its support of our Young Women in Trades Bootcamps. This funding enables us to introduce over 400 young women in grades 9 to 12 to exciting career opportunities in the skilled trades. Through hands-on experiences, these bootcamps are helping to build confidence, spark curiosity, and empower the next generation of women in trades.”
– Dave Gosling
Chief Operating Officer, Enercare

“At Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto, we are proud to deliver the Sister2Sister Advanced Leadership Program, made possible through the Skills Development Fund. To date, more than 1,000 newcomer women have completed the program, gaining in-demand skills, hands-on training, and meaningful employer connections to build rewarding careers and contribute to Ontario’s growing workforce.”
– Sara Asalya
Executive Director, Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto

“Thanks to the Skills Development Fund, the Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen (OBCT) program has been able to directly respond to the real, persistent barriers that affect the retention of tradeswomen in our industry. With this support, we’ve developed and launched vital anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training — a program that speaks directly to the lived experiences of women in construction. This type of training should be a mandatory part of every apprenticeship program across Ontario. Creating safer, more respectful workplaces isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s essential to building a stronger, more inclusive construction workforce.”
– Karen Pullen
Chair, Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen

“The Skills Development Fund supports our Women in Skilled Trades Program. We are successfully helping women build careers in the skilled trades with jobs that are stable and well-paid. At Brands for Canada, we see firsthand how quality training changes futures. We are proud that we’re an integral part of helping women gain the skills and confidence to step into these opportunities and build lasting success for themselves and their families.”
– Helen Harakas
Executive Director, Brands for Canada

“We are incredibly honoured by this investment from the Government of Ontario through the Skills Development Fund. This support allows A Women’s Work to continue creating accessible, high-impact training pathways for women, newcomers, and underrepresented individuals pursuing careers in the skilled trades. With this funding, we can expand our programs, strengthen employer partnerships, and provide the hands-on skills and mentorship needed to build lasting, inclusive change in our industry. We’re proud to work alongside Minister Piccini and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to advance a stronger, more diverse workforce across Ontario.”
– Natasha Ferguson
Founder, A Women’s Work

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