

WINDSOR — The province is investing $14-million to help the next generation get hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing and the auto sector.

Making the announcement at Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing Ltd. in Windsor on Tuesday, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton says the money will be used to create 4,000 paid work placements for post secondary students, recent graduates and apprentices.

The work placements will be between four and 12 months long.

Minister McNaughton points out there are 200,000 unfilled jobs in Ontario, including 9,600 unfilled jobs in Windsor, and companies need young people to get into the industry for it to grow.

"This will give our future engineers, designers, technicians and workers meaningful hands-on experience with real world problems," he says. "It will also allow them to explore the auto industry as a career option."

This is the second phase of the program called the Career Ready Fund's Auto Stream.

The first round created more than 1,000 opportunities through projects at Toyota, Honda, Ford and Fiat Chrysler.

"New technologies and modern processes mean businesses need workers with more advanced skill sets than ever before. Finding workers with these new skill sets is extremely important for this sector. I'm glad to say we are helping out," he says.

The province has now put out a call for proposals for companies to apply for funding with a deadline of February 25, 2020.