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“Who wants to be an electrician? We’ll pay!” says Ontario

March 16, 2022 | By Anthony Capkun



March 16, 2022 – Ontario is investing more than $13 million to provide free training and paid electrician apprenticeships for more than 2500 people across the province who are unemployed “or looking to earn bigger paychecks”.

“When you have a job as an electrician, you have an in-demand job for life,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “I continue to hear from students and parents who don’t know how to enter this incredible field, which can pay over $50 an hour.”

The investment is earmarked for nine projects across Ontario. Two of those are being delivered by the Ontario Electrical Industry Training Trust Fund, which is training nearly 300 people for jobs as construction and industrial electricians, and cabling specialists.

“This funding announcement will help apprentices access the best training possible to address the growing need by employers for network cabling specialists,” said James Barry, IBEW CCO.

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The government’s investment will also go toward financial incentives that encourage employers to hire more apprentices and promote the electrical trades to under-represented groups. The funding is part of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, launched to support training projects that “upskill workers and connect them to careers in their communities”.

According to the province, there were 338,835 job vacancies (unfilled jobs) between July and September 2021. About 8% (25,495) of all vacancies were in the construction sector.

Some more stats from 2021, via the province:

• $34.32/hour – average wage for construction electrician
• $36.12/hour – average wage for industrial electrician
• $38.90/hour – average wage for electrical powerline and cable workers
• $47.21/hour – average wage for power systems electrician


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