Industry Structure and Competition
A spokesperson for Skilled Trades Ontario stated via email that there is no fixed cap on apprenticeship registrations, which occur as employers hire and register individuals directly.
“We know how much determination it takes to pursue a career in the skilled trades, and we want to see people like the graduates you spoke with succeed,” the spokesperson said.
John Finan, owner of Finan Home Service, explained that provincial regulations require a strict one-to-one ratio between licensed journeypersons and registered apprentices, creating competitive bottlenecks for companies.
“The real trick for young people in getting an apprenticeship is to get out there looking for that registered apprenticeship because they're not making money and they're not gaining work experience,” Finan said.
Finan emphasized that pre-apprenticeship trade courses do not guarantee an immediate position with an employer.
“If I have one journeyman who's free and can be matched up with one apprentice, that's a golden ticket for somebody,” he said.
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According to Skilled Trades Ontario, first-time registrations in the Construction and Maintenance trade reached 2,886 in 2021, 3,077 in 2022, 3,222 in 2023, 3,605 in 2024, and 2,685 in 2025.
