Ontario Investing Up to $260 Million to Train Workers

August 1, 2024

Applications now open for largest round of Skills Development Fund to train workers in manufacturing, construction and technology

 The Ontario government’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream opens today, with up to an additional $260 million available, the biggest funding round since the Fund launched in 2021. Building on the success of the previous four rounds, the fifth round will help tackle Ontario’s labour shortage by connecting jobseekers with employers, allowing them to begin rewarding careers in in-demand sectors such as manufacturing, construction and technology.

“Under Premier Ford, our government has revived our province’s manufacturing and construction sectors – and the key to our success is Ontario’s workers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Today, our government launches the fifth round of our Skills Development Fund, with up to $260 million available in funding – making this the largest round yet and the biggest investment in skills training in Ontario’s history. We are calling on Ontario’s business and labour communities and everyone with an interest in training workers to submit their proposals and help us build Ontario.”

Beginning today, employers, employment service and training providers, labour unions, business and industry organizations, municipalities, hospitals, Indigenous Band offices, Indigenous skills and employment training agreement holders, service system managers and other community organizations eligible for funding should submit their proposals through Transfer Payment Ontario. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until October 4, 2024.

This latest round of funding brings Ontario’s total investment through the Skills Development Fund to up to $1.4 billion. As Ontario continues to grow, the SDF will help ensure skilled workers are trained and ready to fill rewarding jobs in in-demand sectors in their communities.

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Quick Facts

The SDF Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Inquiries on how to apply to the SDF Training Stream should be addressed to skillsdevelopmentfund@ontario.ca.

SDF has two streams: the Training Stream supports hiring, training, and upskilling programs for jobseekers, apprentices, and workers; and the Capital Stream supports upgrades or construction of training centres for the skilled trades.

Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s SDF Training Stream has helped almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including over 66,000 construction workers, over 92,000 manufacturing workers and over 36,000 personal support workers and health care workers.