The provincial government is helping London expand in the construction and manufacturing sectors by helping workers prepare for jobs in the skilled trades. Premier Doug Ford announced an investment of $2.6 million through the Skills Development fund on Monday prepare London workers for in-demand jobs. The province is delivering three free training programs by partnering with two London organizations: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 120 and the Literacy Link South Central. The IBEW will receive almost $700,000 to prepare 91 participants for jobs in the construction sectors. Literacy Link South Central will receive almost $2 million to provide foundational skills for 250 apprentices through their Apprenticeship Readiness Inventory and Skills Evaluation program and will provide skills for 298 participants through their Step Up and Succeed: Foundational Skill Building for the Skilled Trades. “By investing in training programs in London, we’re protecting Ontario workers by helping them get the skills they need to land better jobs and bigger paycheques,” said Premier Doug Ford. As of 2023, a report from London Economic Development Corporation found employment prospects in construction estimated more than 7,700 job openings over the next six years in the Elgin-Middlesex-Oxford region. The report went on to say the projections may be underestimates, as they didn’t account for high targets of new housing construction. The province’s announcement on Monday follows a provincial announcement on the same day of an almost $12 million investment in the Building Faster Fund for the City of London. Ontario has committed $2.5 billion to the Skills Development Fund to protect Ontario workers to help them receive necessary training and tools, while helping Ontario remain competitive despite U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty. Since 2021, Ontario has invested $1.5 billion through the SDF to train over one million workers.
