This article was produced as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.
Job hunting in Toronto is rough across the board.
In April 2026, the city’s unemployment rate was 8.2% — worse than the rest of the country, which stands at 6.9%, according to Statistics Canada.
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In Thorncliffe Park, a densely populated Neighbourhood Improvement Area — a municipal designation indicating a community faces systemic inequities in income, education, health and civic resources — finding a job is on top of mind for residents. In 2021, when Toronto’s unemployment rate stood at 13.9%, the east-end neighbourhood’s rate was at 17.9%.
Even today, employment is one of the top three concerns (along with housing and food access) that Thorncliffe Park residents share when they visit local multi-service agency, The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO), according to Sadia Zafar, TNO’s language and skills development program manager.
To address this issue, TNO is one of many agencies in the city that are part of Employment Ontario, a publicly funded network connecting people with personalized help and programs to find a job.
So, if you’re looking for one-on-one help with your job hunt, or if you’re looking for training programs that can put you on the path to a new career, check out the list below.
Employment Ontario
In Toronto, this provincial program is managed by WCG Services through different organizations across 94 locations, including TNO in Thorncliffe Park, WoodGreen in Etobicoke, CVE Inc. in North York, ACCES in Scarborough and many more.
- You’ll notice that many agencies offer Integrated Employment Services (IES) within their Employment Ontario program.
- It provides you with free, one-on-one support from a counsellor for:
- Resume writing
- Interview training
- Skills training
- Job search help
- It provides you with free, one-on-one support from a counsellor for:
- You’ll notice that many agencies offer Integrated Employment Services (IES) within their Employment Ontario program.
- It provides you with free, one-on-one support from a counsellor for:
- Resume writing
- Interview training
- Skills training
- Job search help
- It provides you with free, one-on-one support from a counsellor for:
- You can also access paid certifications and training.
- You can find a location near you by exploring this map, which lists everything you need to get started.
- To be eligible, you have to be:
- 18 or older
- A resident of Ontario
- Eligible to work in Canada,
- Not in full-time education.
- International students or people on a Temporary Foreign Worker visa aren’t eligible.
Better Jobs Ontario
Better Jobs Ontario is another government-funded program that can help you build new skills for careers that are in demand, plus, you can get an allowance and funding while getting training.
Participants can receive up to $28,000 to cover:
- Tuition, books, student fees, supplies and electronic devices
- Transportation expenses
- Basic living allowance
- Childcare
To be eligible, you have to be unemployed for six months or longer, or have been recently laid off. To learn more, you have to go through a local employment agency.
- If you live in or around Thorncliffe Park, The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO) can help you. Email Marsha Nelson at mnelson@tno-toronto.org or call 416-467-0126.
- If you live in downtown Toronto or East York, you can reach out to The Neighbourhood Group. You can find the different locations and the right contact information here.
TNO is hosting an online info session about Better Jobs Ontario on June 30. You can sign up here.
TNO’s job services
TNO is a community-based, multi-service agency with many locations across Toronto.
TNO offers IES as part of Employment Ontario and can help you apply to Better Jobs Ontario.
- TNO also offers networking opportunities for young adults aged 18 to 29, paid training and certification opportunities, as well as formal clothing for your job interviews.
- Eligibility requirements:
- Legally eligible to work in Canada
- Unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week
- Not a full-time student
- Resident of Ontario
- For the Thorncliffe Park Community Hub on 45 Overlea Blvd., drop in anytime during business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
- You can also contact 416-467-0126 ext. 4309 or employmentservices@tno-toronto.org.
- Information Technology (IT)
- Truck driving
- Construction
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
- Information Technology (IT)
- Truck driving
- Construction
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
networks program
TNO’s “netWORKS” program connects job seekers aged 18 to 29 with mentors who can help them kick off their career.
- Mentors can help you with:
- A professional network and introductions to role models
- Real-world advice about how to find a job and how the corporate world works
- Constructive feedback about your career ideas and your job search
- You can apply or ask questions by contacting Nuzhat Ahsan nahsan@tno-toronto.org or calling 416-467-0126 ext: 4309 or 416-996-0313.
- Mentors can help you with:
- A professional network and introductions to role models
- Real-world advice about how to find a job and how the corporate world works
- Constructive feedback about your career ideas and your job search
- You can apply or ask questions by contacting Nuzhat Ahsan nahsan@tno-toronto.org or calling 416-467-0126 ext: 4309 or 416-996-0313.
IT pathway program
This program offers skills training for Python, web development and data analysis.
- The training is three weeks long.
- You’ll also have a chance to build a real portfolio to showcase to potential employers, as well as help build your resume and prep for interviews.
- Eligibility requirements:
- Permanent resident or refugee or citizen
- 18 years or older
- Have basic programming experience
- You can apply or ask questions by contacting sbegam@tno-toronto.org or calling 416-421-8397 ext. 1276 or 647-239-7682.
- The training is three weeks long.
- You’ll also have a chance to build a real portfolio to showcase to potential employers, as well as help build your resume and prep for interviews.
- Eligibility requirements:
- Permanent resident or refugee or citizen
- 18 years or older
- Have basic programming experience
- You can apply or ask questions by contacting sbegam@tno-toronto.org or calling 416-421-8397 ext. 1276 or 647-239-7682.
Truck driving program
This program offers practical training and employment support to help participants build a “high-paying” career in trucking.
- The training takes place in Oshawa at 99 Wentworth St. E.
- It includes hands-on driving experience, road tests, career guidance and training for needed licenses.
- Eligibility requirements:
- Permanent resident or refugee or citizen
- 18 years or older
- Have a valid G license and a clean driving abstract
- Have CLB 6 English proficiency and pass a pre-enrollment exam
- You can apply by filling out this form.
- If you have questions, you can reach out to trades@tno-toronto.org or call 416-421-8397 ext. 4804 or 1276.
Construction pathway program
This program offers hands-on training, industry certifications, connections with unions and employers and help with resume and interview prep for people interested in carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, tiling, drywall work and other construction trades.
- The training is seven weeks long and takes place at the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub at 45 Overlea Blvd., Unit 1A.
- Eligibility requirements:
- Permanent resident or refugee or citizen
- 18 years or older
- Eligible to work in Canada
- You can apply by filling out this form.
- If you have questions, you can reach out to trades@tno-toronto.org or call 416-421-8397 ext. 4804 or 1276.
HVAC technician training
This program offers you help to get training, licenses and co-op placement to become an HVAC technician.
- The training is 19 weeks long and takes place at Hi-Mark Occupational Skills Training Centre (692 King St. E.) in Oshawa.
- Eligibility requirements:
- Permanent resident or refugee or citizen
- 18 years or older
- CLB Level 8
- You can apply by filling out this form.
- If you have questions, you can reach out to trades@tno-toronto.org or call 416-421-8397 ext. 4804 or 1276.
Psst: If you’re a queer job seeker looking for a career in the trades, check out The Green Line’s Action Journey, “Queer Torontonians in the trades.” We broke down the barriers that members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community have on the job, highlighted on-the-ground stories from queer tradespeople, including their survival strategies and ongoing advocacy.
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