Ontario is facing a critical skilled trades shortage, and every barrier to workforce participation must be examined. One key obstacle identified by experts and trade unions is the lack of accessible child care for tradespeople. This issue has now become a central topic of research and discussion within the industry.
2. The Skilled Trades Labour Shortage in Ontario
With the province’s growing construction demands, Ontario urgently needs to attract and retain skilled workers. However, many qualified tradespeople — particularly parents — are unable to work due to the unavailability of suitable child care services, which threatens to worsen the labour gap.
3. LIUNA Local 506’s Research Initiative
To address this challenge, LIUNA Local 506 launched the Construction and Child Care Research Initiative, supported by Ontario’s Skills Development Fund. This program explored the specific barriers parents in the skilled trades face when trying to secure reliable child care.
4. Purpose of the Study
The study aimed to understand how work schedules, travel distances, and unpredictable project timelines impact parents in trades like construction, electrical work, and carpentry. It also sought real-world solutions that could help families balance professional and personal responsibilities.
5. Key Findings from the Report
The final report, titled “Building Up Child Care For Workers in the Skilled Trades”, revealed that tradespeople face far greater challenges than those in other industries. Over 30 organizations, partners, and experts — including Local 506 members — contributed valuable insights to this research.
6. Main Barriers to Child Care Access
The report highlighted several specific barriers that make it hard for tradespeople to access care:
- Early start times before child care centers open
- Overtime and unpredictable hours
- Changing worksites with long travel times
- Short-term projects with multiple contractors
- Weather-related delays and last-minute changes
- Gaps between jobs leading to inconsistent child care needs
- Standard child care hours (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) not matching trade schedules
7. Recommendations from the Study
To tackle these challenges, the report provided 20 recommendations aimed at governments, unions, and local partners. These include:
- Extending hours at current child care centers
- Recruiting home-based care providers from building trades families
- Creating on-site child care facilities at large construction projects
- Founding union-owned child care organizations
- Using union-owned properties for child care expansion
8. Proposed Solutions for the Construction Sector
The study emphasized that there is no single solution. Instead, a combination of flexible and creative approaches is required. For example, developing child care hubs near construction sites or mobile centers that move between large projects could significantly reduce barriers.
9. The Role of Unions and Government Support
Unions like LIUNA Local 506 and government bodies must collaborate to ensure sustainable progress. By aligning funding, regulation, and workforce development, both parties can create an inclusive environment where parents in trades can thrive without sacrificing family responsibilities.
10. Conclusion
The LIUNA Local 506 report sheds light on one of the most overlooked workforce challenges — child care accessibility. Addressing this barrier could open opportunities for thousands of skilled workers, particularly women, and help Ontario strengthen its skilled trades sector for future growth.