The governments of Ontario and Canada are investing more than $203,000 to help steel and manufacturing workers in Hamilton develop new skills and move into in-demand careers as the sector faces pressure from U.S. tariffs and broader global trade uncertainty.
The $203,735 investment, announced Oct. 6, will support 75 workers and jobseekers through the Skill Pathways for Work project, delivered by Learning Connections Hamilton. Funding is being provided through Skills Advance Ontario as part of the Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response.
Training Targets Workers Affected by Steel Sector Disruptions
The program will provide participants with skills assessments, individualized training plans, digital skills upgrading, referrals to training programs, case management and assistance accessing certifications and short-term training required for employment.
“Ontario is fighting back against President Trump’s attacks on our economy by helping our workers retrain, upskill and stay competitive,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “These investments are giving workers the skills they need to succeed, helping employers find the talent they need to grow and strengthening the industries that keep our communities moving. The best response to tariffs is a stronger Ontario economy, and that is exactly what we are building.”
The Hamilton funding forms part of the $228.8-million Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response, a three-year initiative designed to provide Employment Insurance-funded training, employment assistance and transition supports for as many as 27,000 workers affected by tariffs and changing global markets.
Patty Hajdu, federal Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, said governments are working to ensure affected workers can adapt to changing economic conditions.
“For generations, workers in Hamilton’s steel and manufacturing sector have helped build a stronger Canada. At a time of global economic uncertainty and trade disruptions, we will be there to help them navigate what comes next,” Hajdu said. “The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are helping workers access training that connects them to jobs, builds new skills and seize new opportunities. Together, we are ensuring workers can prosper today, while positioning them to lead in tomorrow’s economy.”
Hamilton Builds on Existing Employment Supports
The investment adds to existing workforce programs in Hamilton, a city where steel and manufacturing remain significant parts of the local economy.
The United Steelworkers Action Centre, which originally opened in August 2007, was converted into a Protect Ontario Workers Employment Response, or POWER, Centre in March 2026. It provides employment and transition services to workers affected by layoffs, downsizing and workplace closures.
The Hamilton Steelworkers Adjustment Committee has provided workforce adjustment services to more than 14,000 workers over more than two decades.
Workers Can Access Retraining and Employment Assistance
Additional assistance is available through Better Jobs Ontario, which can provide eligible workers with up to $35,000 for skills-training programs lasting as long as two years.
Ontario said nearly 4,300 people across the province received support through Better Jobs Ontario last year, including more than 140 people in the Hamilton area. Integrated Employment Services also helped more than 237,000 Ontarians work toward finding employment, including more than 22,700 people in Hamilton-Niagara.
“Steel workers are at the heart of Hamilton’s economy and we must continue to support them through economic uncertainty and ongoing tariff threats. This investment will help workers gain the skills they need to find good-paying jobs and build new opportunities. By investing in Hamilton workers, we are strengthening our local economy and protecting our community’s future,” said Monica Ciriello, Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Mountain.
Sara Gill of Learning Connections Hamilton said the project is designed to provide workers with individualized pathways back into employment.
“The Skills Pathways for Work project helps workers laid off from the steel industry get back to work through upgrading and training. This could include skills upgrading, digital technology skills, high school credits/equivalents, job-specific courses, apprenticeship/skilled trades and more. We identify the skills and training needed, build a plan together that’s right for them and keep them on track to reach their employment goal. We couldn’t do this without our partners—the Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council, Hamilton Literacy Council and Niagara College. We are grateful to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for identifying the need for this work and supporting the project. Together, we’re providing the support and training needed to help people get back to work.”
As of Oct. 2, Ontario and Canada were supporting 17 Skills Advance Ontario projects aimed at assisting more than 2,000 participants in sectors particularly affected by tariffs. The Hamilton investment is intended to help workers navigate immediate employment disruptions while strengthening the region’s skilled workforce for longer-term economic growth.