The federal government announces nearly $247 million to help create more than 25,000 vocational training jobs across Canada.

Minister of Employment Carla Qualtrough says the budget will fund 13 programs to help small and medium-sized employers provide vocational training.

In a press release, Carla Qualtrough says more than $45 million will go to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum to help employ 4,000 apprentices in the first year in the construction and manufacturing trades.

Ottawa says employers will be eligible to double the funds if they hire certain equity-seeking groups such as women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and racialized individuals.

The government says about 700,000 skilled workers in Canada are expected to retire by 2028. The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum says in the press release that to meet the demand for skilled workers, an average of 75,000 new apprentices will need to be hired annually over the next five years.

Qualtrough said: "We need Canadians to be able to seize these opportunities and get the tools, training, and resources they need to grow." "Apprenticeship is one of the best ways to do this."

Among the most popular jobs are welders, industrial mechanics, builders, chefs, and hairdressers... according to BuildForce Canada, the construction industry alone needs to hire 309,000 new workers over the next decade to meet the expected demand.

Canadian Apprenticeship Forum Executive Director France Davio welcomed the announcement. Davio said in the press release: "The apprenticeship community recognizes the importance of encouraging and supporting employers to hire new apprentices."