The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is to receive more than C$1.6m to create Toronto Pearson's first airport-wide job portal.
Financed by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD)’s Skills Development Fund, the Pearson Works! Online portal will support the recovery, reskilling and upskilling of the Toronto Pearson workforce. It will connect more than 400 airport employers and thousands of airport workers with job opportunities, training and support while helping one of the hardest hit sectors of Ontario's economy. Toronto Pearson is the anchor institution at the heart of the Airport Employment Zone, which pre-COVID was Canada's second largest employment cluster, providing work for more than 300,000 people.
"Over the past two years, the aviation sector workforce has demonstrated tremendous grit, innovation and resilience in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognising the impacts of COVID-19 on the airport, this funding will provide the foundation of our long-term vision for workforce recovery," said Deborah Flint, president and CEO of the GTAA.
"This will create a work environment that allows employees to build on their skillsets and access available job opportunities across the airport to further the good jobs the airport facilitates. We thank the Government of Ontario for this support."
Pearson Works! Online and its programmes will be designed in partnership with members of the airport community, including labour groups such as the Toronto Airport Workers Council (TAWC), which represents airport workers and their largest unions. TAWC's knowledge of labour issues, mobilisation and rapid workforce response will be key to understanding worker needs, designing programming, recruiting and measuring impact.
