Hammer Heads are Key to Resolving Skilled Labour Shortage

TORONTO - Addressing the shortage of skilled labour we are facing will require a varied and multi-faceted approach. Toronto’s Hammer Heads program is a fundamental piece of that effort.
The Hammer Heads program, under the auspices of the Central Ontario Building Trades (COBT) is an intense 12-week skills- and employment-based training course for young adults from under-resourced communities. With mentors and coaches who are veterans and seasoned workers in Ontario’s unionized construction trades, Hammer Heads provides hands-on learning in several construction trades.
“With the help of the COBT’s 28 affiliates and some good training, Hammer Heads is providing some at-risk youth with an opportunity they may not have otherwise had,” said James St. John, Business Manager of COBT. “The young men and women who come through Hammer Heads are making a better life for themselves and are making valuable contributions to the continued and ongoing building of Ontario.”
According to the Conference Board of Canada, the country is facing a shortage of 360,000 skilled workers by 2025, and more than 540,000 skilled workers by 2030. The shortage of skilled labour has also been identified by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce as one of the top 10 barriers to economic growth in Canada.
While issues such as immigration will play a role in addressing the shortage, it is also paramount that awareness and proper training are significant factors in ensuring Canada has the workers it needs to build the country. The career opportunities presented by the skilled worker shortage for today’s students are excellent, provided they are aware of them.