Partnership will offer free online courses to those impacted by the pandemic

The Ontario government is investing $5.8 million in free online training to help 100,000 workers gain the skills they need to find good jobs and restart their careers. Courses will focus on building skills most in-demand by employers in fields such as information techology, finance and business administration.

This funding is part of the government’s $115 million Skills Development Fund to address challenges to hiring, training and retraining workers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As our province safely and steadily reopens we’re seeing strong demand for qualified workers across many industries,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “There are more than 250,000 jobs in Ontario going unfilled today. Many hardworking people are eager to start these new, well-paying and purpose-driven careers. Through this partnership with LinkedIn, we’ve identified the top skills employers are looking for and we’re offering free online training to help workers and their families get back on their feet.”

Workers will have access to over 17,000 courses, including videos taught by global industry experts. Employment Ontario career experts will coach each worker on which courses match their needs and personal career goals.

“We are excited to facilitate economic growth in Ontario through our learning, labor market insights, and recruiting products,” said Mark Lobosco, Vice President of LinkedIn Talent Solutions, “Together, we can create more equal access to opportunity through learning and skills and help prepare Ontarians for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

This partnership aligns with Ontario’s efforts to quickly re-skill laid off workers, reach traditionally under-represented groups and support the talent needs of small businesses.

It will also provide employment services organizations with access to local labour market data to ensure workers are building skills reflected in local job postings. Employment service providers will also be able to use the platform’s employer outreach tools to build relationships with local employers to connect workers with job placements more quickly.

“As we move forward with reopening, our government is committed to helping workers find good, meaningful and well-paying jobs,” said Robin Martin, MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence. “This important investment will ensure everyone looking for work can quickly access the training they need to start in-demand jobs and get back on their feet.” said Robin Martin, MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence.”

The funding comes as part of the government’s $115 million Skills Development Fund to address challenges to hiring, training and retraining workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and is part of the province’s 2021 Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy.