Backgrounder
A Plan to Prepare People for Jobs
November 6, 2019
Ontario has a plan to make sure that today’s students — tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, innovators and workers — have the skills needed to succeed in a highly competitive global economy. Advances in technology, globalization and an aging population are just a few of the challenges facing Ontario’s workforce. The province’s education and training systems have not kept pace with the shifting economy and do not have the flexibility needed to adapt. That is why the government is investing in education and skills training programs from preschool through to adult employment services.
Preparing Students for Successful Careers
To prepare students for successful careers, the government is renewing its focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields as well as the skilled trades. The K-12 Ontario STEM Education Strategy will enable the province to become a global leader in STEM learning.
Students graduating from Ontario’s universities and colleges should have the skills they need to succeed in today’s highly competitive labour market. To increase accountability, the government is introducing an outcomes-based funding model as part of negotiating new Strategic Mandate Agreements with publicly assisted colleges and universities. The government is linking 60 per cent of operating funding to performance outcomes by the 2024–25 academic year.
The government has a plan where young people are set up for success, prepared to match the needs of a growing economy and develop the skills to be adaptable lifelong learners.
Transforming Skilled Trades and Employment Programs
Apprenticeships are important for people of all ages to gain practical training and experience. To support skilled trades, the government is modernizing Ontario’s apprenticeship system by reducing regulatory burden in the skilled trades and creating more opportunities for apprentices and employers. The government is establishing a new streamlined and modernized ministry-led delivery model to address challenges in how the skilled trades were regulated and the high membership fees that apprentices and journeypersons had to pay.
To help job seekers get good quality jobs, the government is transforming Ontario’s employment services to focus on the needs of local communities, workers and employers. Based on their feedback, the new employment services model will launch in three diverse urban and rural communities: Peel Region, Hamilton-Niagara and Muskoka-Kawarthas. This new employment services model will be expanded across the rest of the province starting in 2022. To better match unemployed or underemployed people with available opportunities, the government is reviewing and making changes to programs such as Second Career and other skills training supports to ensure they are helping people get the skills they need to find work.
Attracting Skilled Workers to Ontario
A skilled labour force is the core of the province’s economy, but many small and rural communities are struggling to attract the people they need. To encourage immigration to these locations, the government will work with these communities to assess interest in the proposed Ontario Regional Immigration Pilot. To make it easier for businesses to attract top talent and skilled workers from around the world, the government is simplifying and clarifying the requirements of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
Supporting the Francophone Community
The government recognizes the contribution of the Francophone community to the province’s social, cultural and economic development and wants to ensure that French-speaking students have access to postsecondary education that is aligned with labour market needs. Ontario is working with the federal government to establish the Université de l’Ontario français to address the needs of about 622,000 Francophones in the province.
To create meaningful employment opportunities and strengthen the capacity of Francophone organizations, the government launched a redesigned version of the Francophone Community Grants Program. The program will continue to invest in local cultural and community initiatives, demonstrating the government's ongoing support for the Francophone non-profit sector, as well as Ontario’s commitment to protecting and promoting the French language and culture.