In the early days of March 2020, just before the world as we know it changed, we hosted our In-Demand Skilled Trades Event - to report on our research found in our Under Pressure 2.0 project.
The Under Pressure 2.0 report drew on feedback from 138 Hamilton employers gathered through a three-phase consultation process conducted in the fall of 2019. Employers contacted for the consultation were identified by using census-based indicators to determine occupations and industries in Hamilton most likely to have hard to fill positions.
Employers in the skilled trades reported concerns such as "We are heading toward a hiring crisis. What we didn’t do twenty years ago is now coming home to roost.”
This year, in partnership with the Mohawk College Apprenticeship Community Hub, we are developing an Apprenticeship Employer Toolkit - aimed at supporting employers during the hiring crisis in our community by providing an easily accessible online information.
The Toolkit will support employers through recruitment and retention of apprenticeships, including guidance and tips to successfully on-board and retain apprentices featuring specific information on:
- Recruitment
- Registration
- Training
- Monitoring
- Financial incentives
- Release to School
- Completion
We will be hosting a virtual Zoom forum on March 1st from 8:30-10am, to present the Apprenticeship Employer Tool Kit to skilled trades employers in Hamilton and to gather employer feedback about how this new comprehensive digital Tool Kit can work for employers.
We are currently taking contact information from skilled trades employers who are interested in participating to give feedback on the new Employer Apprenticeship Tool kit.
An invitation with more information will be emailed out in the coming weeks.
