Following the LBS organizations, employment services and community services in your area just got easier!
Literacy Ontario Central South (LOCS) has created a document that includes links to websites and social media sites for organizations in Central Ontario.
You can download the complete list here: Social Media PDF.
To make it effortless for you, we’ve included a Table of Contents with links that will take you to the specific county and service you’re looking for.
These social media sites provide great options to stay connected with others and to get up-to-date information on current programs, training information and resources.
LOCS supports LBS organizations in the counties of City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Hastings, Northumberland and Peterborough. We also work closely with employment service partners in each of these five counties and a wide range of other community services. Social Media is a great way to share current program and training information as well as resources.
This newsletter includes great articles about the highest paying trades in Canada, information about apprenticeships and newcomers, information about Canadian Armed Forces veterans applying their skills in construction and information about Skilled Trades Ontario and their new website. This newsletter also shared the LOCS blog post “Math and the Skilled Trades“. Finally you will find information about Perfectio a magazine by the Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA).
Every issue of The Apprenticeship Connection ends with a great list of resource links.
If you would like access to past issues you can find them at:
Both organizations can provide you with current, local Labour Market Information (LMI), including hiring demands, skill requirements and/or wages for any career you are considering, including a skilled trade.
For example, if you are thinking about entering a skilled trade, you can contact them to find out what the job demand is for that specific trade in your region.
LMI Help Desks:
If you are interested in working in City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland or Peterborough, contact the LMI Help Desk at the WDB to ask for information about the labour market.
If you are interested in working in Hastings, contact the LMI Help Desk at the CFWD to ask for information about the labour market.
In-Demand Trades
Over the years the planning boards in our area have tracked and documented in-demand trades. This list has included Automotive, Electrician, Truck and Coach Technician, Hairstylist and Plumber. We have also seen a demand for Truck Drivers, Early Childhood Educators (ECE), Cooks, Bakers, Carpenters, Heavy Equipment Operators, Automotive Service Technicians, Electricians, Millwrights, Heavy Equipment Mechanics, and Construction Trades Helpers, Labourers.
If any of these trades interest you, contact the LMI Help Desk at either the CFWD (Hastings) or the WDB (City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland and Peterborough) to ask them for the most up-to-date Labour Market information.
Edge Factor Videos
You can also learn about careers by watching Edge Factor videos developed in partnership with the planning boards:
The new Skills Ontario App is a good place to start.
It is free, easy to download and easy to use. It includes a Popular Careers section where you get examples of jobs such as Web Designer, Chef, Baker, Computer Aided Drafting and 3D Digital Game Artist. You will also find links to events and links to other services.
This app includes a quiz. When you finish answering the questions in this short quiz, you will get a list of careers in the trades that are the best match for you, based on your answers.
You are also provided with information about the pay range as well as a brief job description, job responsibilities, information about where people in this trade work and the education required to work in these trades.
This quiz is a great starting point for anyone thinking about a career in the trades.
Next Step
Your next step may be doing a skills assessment or further career research.
Our adult training programs can help by offering you an in-depth assessment. Contact us if you are interested in learning more about the skills you have that you will bring to a skilled trade.
There may also be skills you want to develop further before starting your training or registering as an apprentice. For example, you can contact us if you would like to learn about how to use technology such as apps. To learn more about the computer training that will help you prepare to work in the trades, visit our ‘Computers and the Skilled Trades‘ post.
You may also want to take the results of your Skills Ontario quiz to your local employment services office where you can also discuss and explore your options further.
Skills Ontario is an organization that has been promoting skilled trades and technologies in Ontario for over 30 years.
Their mission is “to champion and stimulate the development of world-class technological and employability skills in Ontario youth.” They are “building Ontario’s skilled trades and technologies workforce.” They want to “enable and empower all youth, including women and Indigenous youth, to consider a career in the skilled trades and technologies.” Learn more at the Skills Ontario website.
Note: Although the focus is Ontario Youth (up to age 29), anyone can use this app and the information and resources on their website.
If you would like more information about next steps, contact an adult training program in your area. You can also reach out to Carrie with your questions: .
Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program information
Information about how LBS programs support apprenticeship success
Success stories, tips and statistics
Links to some great resources you can share
Literacy Ontario Central South (LOCS) is part of an Ontario-wide apprenticeship committee. We will be releasing regular newsletters highlighting apprenticeships and resources.
Sharing your story: If you have a success story or resources you want to share in our next newsletter, contact
Apprenticeship Information: For information about apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship supports through LBS in the LOCS region, contact Carrie Wakeford at
Apprenticeship support in the LOCS region: To learn more about the individual training programs that support apprentice success in the LOCS region, visit our programs page.
Apprenticeship support in Ontario: For information about individual training programs that support apprentice success an areas outside of the LOCS region, visit the Learning Networks of Ontario
In addition to the well-known trades of plumber, electrician and carpenter, the skilled trades also include hairdresser, baker, child and youth worker, educational assistant, roofer, heavy equipment operator, machinist and drywall finisher.
These are just a few of the 144 skilled trades in Ontario.
Although these trades are very different, they have one thing in common – they all need the people in the field to have some math skills.
To see a full list of the 144 skilled trades visit this Explore the Trades page. You can also learn more about the trades at the Apprentice Search website.
Math Skills Needed in the Trades
Below you will find a list of some of the math skills needed in the trades.
For a detailed list of the math skills needed in the trades, visit the foundations section of this Trades – Math document.
Don’t worry if it has been a while since you were in a math class or you have realized you are not familiar with everything on this list. Contact any of the free adult upgrading, and training programs for help.
Trades Assessment
Our adult training and upgrading programs offer assessments to help you pick the skills you need to focus on to get you where you want to go in the trades.
The math section of this self-assessment will give you another list of the math skills needed in the trades.
This assessment includes measurement (metric / imperial), dimensions (area or volume), estimates (time, distance, volume or quantity), ratios and proportions (using scale drawings) and geometry (calculate slopes or elevation).
If you complete this assessment and feel like you might need assistance, contact an adult training program in your area. We can help with training or a math refresher.
Free Adult Training and Upgrading
Adult training and upgrading programs can help you develop the core math skills needed to work in any trade.
We make sure you have the base you need so you are ready to learn trade specific math once you are in an apprenticeship, training program or when you need to learn on-the-job.
Adult training and upgrading programs are for people who are:
thinking about working in a trade
working in a trade
registered as an apprentice
preparing for the Certificate of Qualification (CofQ) exam
We can help you pinpoint the skills you need to develop for the trade you are interested in, which means your training will be customized, short and focused.
Workbooks
There are free workbooks available online. Below you will find two available through the Canadian Government.
If you are working through these workbooks and find you have questions or would like some support, we can help.
Contact Us
Contact any of our programs to find out how we can help you move successfully into a skilled trade or do well in your current apprenticeship.
For a list of services in the Haliburton, City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, Northumberland and Hastings visit our programs page. Or contact Carrie Wakeford at or 705 313-4385.
Literacy Ontario Central South (LOCS) has created a document that includes links to websites and social media sites for organizations in Central Ontario.
