Ontario’s Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fairs drew record attendance this fall, with more than 57,000 students and job seekers taking part across the province.
The events were presented by Skilled Trades Ontario, designed to provide hands-on exposure to careers in the skilled trades.
In 2025, Level Up! visited 11 communities over 27 days between mid-September and mid-December. A 12th location in Timmins was postponed and is now scheduled for the spring. Organizers say this year’s turnout was the highest since the program launched in 2022.
According to Skilled Trades Ontario, nearly 49,500 students from 947 schools attended the fairs. Each stop also included a community open house held in the afternoon and evening, which brought in another 8,200 attendees, including families and adult job seekers exploring career changes.
The events featured more than 400 exhibit booths, staffed by close to 1,800 volunteer exhibitors from over 145 organizations. Attendees were able to try hands-on activities, ask questions, and learn directly from people working in a wide range of skilled trades.
Level Up! career fairs are aimed primarily at students in grades seven through twelve and are designed to introduce participants to Ontario’s 144 recognized skilled trades. Organizers say the experiential format helps broaden awareness of the trades and highlights them as viable and rewarding career paths.
Skilled Trades Ontario notes that many skilled trades continue to face labour shortages, increasing interest in training and apprenticeship opportunities. The fairs are intended to support informed career planning by connecting students and job seekers with industry representatives and training information.
More information about Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fairs, including future dates and locations, is available at levelupontario.ca.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
