EMPLOY - Employer Workforce Capacity & Readiness Program

EMPLOY begins with a 12-month pilot designed to better understand employer capacity and identify opportunities to strengthen the skilled trades workforce system.

The pilot focuses on gathering employer intelligence through:

• Employer surveys 
• One-on-one interviews 
• Site visits 
• Employer roundtables 
• Industry conversations 

This information is then validated against existing labour market, apprenticeship, workforce, and demographic data to help identify trends, opportunities, and potential solutions.  Employer intelligence gathering continues throughout the pilot and includes surveys, interviews, site visits, roundtables, and industry conversations. 

The purpose of the pilot is not to assume answers.

The purpose is to gather evidence.

By the end of the pilot, we hope to better understand:

• Workforce capacity within skilled trades employers 
• Apprenticeship capacity 
• Common barriers to growth 
• Opportunity creation potential 
• Workforce readiness 
• Support utilization 
• Future workforce priorities

EMPLOY is not intended to replace existing programs, services, or organizations.

The initiative is designed to complement the valuable work already being done by:

• Employers 
• School Boards 
• OYAP 
• Colleges & Training Providers 
• Skilled Trades Ontario 
• Workforce Planning Boards 
• Employment Ontario Service Providers 
• Municipalities 
• Economic Development Organizations 
• Industry Associations 
• Community Partners 

The goal is to contribute employer intelligence that can help inform future workforce planning, investments, and decision-making.

EMPLOY is currently in the development phase.

If you would like to learn more, share insights, contribute data, explore partnership opportunities, or stay informed as the pilot progresses, we'd love to connect.