September 30, 2026
Construction employers facing skilled labour shortages, workforce retirements and increasing competition for talent will come together at Merit Ontario’s 2026 Apprenticeship Forum for Employers on November 18 in Mississauga.
The half-day event will focus on practical strategies for developing and retaining apprentices, improving certification outcomes and building a sustainable skilled trades workforce.
Employers, industry leaders, workforce development professionals and apprenticeship experts will explore challenges affecting apprentices throughout their career development—from registration and workplace training through certification and long-term employment.
For construction employers, recruiting an apprentice is only the first stage of developing skilled trades talent.
Merit Ontario says this year’s forum was shaped in part by feedback received from employers who attended its previous Apprenticeship Forum.
“Employers told us where they are seeing challenges and what they need more support with, so we’ve built the forum around those conversations,” said Glenda Rahn, Director of Workforce Development at Merit Ontario.
According to Rahn, the objective is to provide employers with practical information, ideas and resources that can be brought back into the workplace to improve apprentice support, strengthen retention and help more apprentices reach certification.
The forum will examine how employers can support apprentices throughout the apprenticeship process and identify barriers that may affect their ability to progress toward certification.
Topics will include apprentice development, retention, mentorship and long-term workforce planning.
Attendees will also explore approaches for improving apprenticeship completion outcomes and strengthening the employer-apprentice relationship.
The emphasis on retention recognizes that attracting people into the skilled trades represents only part of the workforce challenge. Employers also need strategies to develop workers, support their progression and encourage them to build long-term careers within the industry.
The 2026 Apprenticeship Forum will also examine mentorship and emerging training technologies that could help employers strengthen apprentice development.
Sessions will explore Ontario’s apprenticeship landscape, global workforce practices and new approaches to identifying and addressing individual apprentice learning needs.
For construction employers, these discussions can provide practical ideas for improving how apprentices are trained and supported on the job while helping organizations develop their future workforce.
Workforce planning remains an important consideration for construction employers as experienced workers retire and companies compete for skilled tradespeople.
Developing apprentices through to certification can help employers establish a longer-term pipeline of qualified workers rather than relying solely on external recruitment.
Merit Ontario’s forum is designed specifically for employers, with an emphasis on strategies that can be implemented within construction workplaces.
By bringing employers together with workforce development and apprenticeship professionals, the November event will focus on improving apprentice experiences, strengthening mentorship, addressing learning barriers and supporting more workers through certification.
The 2026 Apprenticeship Forum for Employers takes place November 18 in Mississauga, Ontario.
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