This week is National Skilled Trades and Technology Week, and we’re celebrating the real people building Ontario’s future through ApprenticeSearch.com’s Gateway to the Trades, funded by Ontario’s Skills Development Fund.

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After losing her office job, Sarah saw it as a turning point — not an ending. With a long-standing interest in hands-on work, she decided it was time to explore a new direction.

Her timing couldn’t have been better. Ontario’s skilled trades workforce is aging — with one in three tradespeople over the age of 55 — and employers are increasingly looking for new entrants, including women and career changers.

Through ApprenticeSearch.com’s Gateway to the Trades, funded by the Skills Development Fund, Sarah received personalized job coaching, safety training, and practical tools that helped her transition into the skilled trades sector.

“As someone who had recently lost my job, I felt vulnerable,” Sarah shared. “But knowing HIEC–ApprenticeSearch.com was investing in me meant I was even more motivated to do well. I felt accountable to follow through with my plan.”

Sarah also received practical support — like safety training, resume help, and a toolkit — that made her transition smoother.

“Gateway to the Trades was clearly created by a group who understands what someone like me needs to break into a new career in this industry,” Sarah said.

Now, Sarah is thriving in a role that allows her to work with her hands. Her story is proof that when we invest in people, we don’t just rebuild careers — we rebuild confidence.

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Every story like this is part of a much bigger picture. Through ApprenticeSearch.com’s Gateway to the Trades, more than 1,480 people have been hired into skilled trades roles, and over 650 have started apprenticeships across Ontario.

The program helps remove real barriers — from the cost of safety gear and tools to the confidence gap that comes with starting something new. Participants get coaching, certifications, and support that help them not only get hired but stay employed.

With an 80% employment rate and over $1.3 million in industry contributions leveraged to date, Gateway continues to show that when we invest in people, good things happen — for job seekers, employers, and Ontario’s skilled trades community.

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