Find a career you wouldn’t trade! A skilled trade is a career path that requires hands-on work and specialty knowledge. Skilled trades workers build and maintain infrastructure like our homes, schools, hospitals, roads, farms and parks. They keep industries running and perform many services we rely on every day, like hairstyling, food preparation or social services.
Apprenticeship is a training system that combines on-the-job training and periods of classroom learning (usually 8 week terms, but can range from 4 to 12 week periods).
While working, apprentices gain practical experience with training provided by a certified journeyperson in the designated trade. While at school, apprentices gain the technical knowledge necessary to succeed in the industry.
Typically, apprenticeship opportunities consist of 80% on-the-job training and 20% technical training.
As an apprentice, you will learn the latest industry standards and technology while you gain hands-on experience. Apprenticeship allows you “earn, while you learn”. Ultimately, the goal is to become certified in your particular areas of specialization. An Inter-Provincial (IP), or Red Seal, certification allows you to work anywhere in Canada in your trade.
The Workforce Planning Board of York Region is a non-for-profit, community-based organization working to develop solutions to local labour market needs and issues.
The Workforce Planning Board's role is to engage our community and community partners in a local labour market research and planning process that leads to cooperative efforts among partners to find local solutions to local issues.
The website contains information to support both employers and job seekers who are unemployed or underemployed. Resources include information on connecting to Employment Ontario Service Providers who can support in hiring qualified employees, job search leading to employment, starting your own business, literacy skills upgrading or transitioning into a new career all at no cost to the employer or job seeker.