How Essential Skills Training Prepares You for Durham Region Jobs. 3 Industries Hiring in Durham Right Now

Looking for work now and not sure what skills local employers want?

Durham College’s Essential Skills training is built around the jobs actively hiring in Durham Region—especially Retail, Warehousing, and Food & Beverage. It’s in-person, tuition-free (funded by Employment Ontario), and taught with real tasks like you’ll see on the job.

This is a quick win opportunity to increase your chances of landing an in-demand job: complete a short assessment, join a class, and earn a Durham College micro-credential you can add to your resume or LinkedIn.

Where the jobs are in Durham (right now)

Local labour market data shows steady demand in the exact areas this training covers:

  • Wholesale & Retail Trade: ~34,500 people employed (largest sector)

  • Accommodation & Food Services: ~11,200

  • Transportation & Warehousing: ~9,800

     (Oshawa CMA, Aug 2025)

Recent postings also show a big need for food counter attendants & kitchen helpers, while retail remains one of the top areas by total postings in the region. (Durham Workforce Authority)

Bottom line: If you’re aiming at retail, warehousing, or food service, you’re choosing Durham region jobs with active hiring and clear entry points to advancement.

How the training maps to real roles

Each Essential Skills stream is hands-on, simple, and practical.

Here’s how it lines up with local job titles you can find that are hiring.

Retail: Sales Floor, Cash, and Customer Care

Typical job titles

  • Sales Associate, Cashier, Customer Service Rep
  • Stock/Inventory Associate, Merchandiser

You’ll practice in training

  • Using a Point-of-Sale (POS) system (open/close, returns, exchanges)
  • Money math and cash-handling (change, discounts, HST)
  • Customer service scripts: greeting, helping, problem-solving
  • Reading labels, signs, and promo sheets to find and use information
  • Teamwork during rushes; handing off customers smoothly

Day-one confidence

  • Run a sale on POS without freezing up
  • Handle a return/exchange using store policy
  • Find a product in the back using a stock sheet or device

Pathways up

  • Keyholder → Assistant Manager → Department Lead
  • Cross-train to Customer Service or Inventory Control

Food & Beverage: Kitchen Helpers & Front Counter

Typical job titles

  • Food Counter Attendant, Kitchen Helper/Prep, Host/Cashier
  • Quick-Service Team Member

You’ll practice in training

  • Reading tickets/recipes and portioning correctly
  • Safe food handling basics (clean, separate, cook, chill)
  • Line setup and teamwork during busy service (“on the pass”)
  • Using POS in a quick-service environment
  • Counting and simple conversions (e.g., doubling a recipe)

Day-one confidence

  • Set up/tear down a station, label and date items
  • Follow a simple recipe and portion consistently
  • Take an order on POS and send it to the kitchen

Pathways up

  • Line Cook (with more kitchen hours), Shift Lead, Supervisor
  • Cross-train to Catering or Banquet Service

Warehousing & Logistics: Back-of-House and Shipping/Receiving

Typical job titles

  • Warehouse Associate, Order Picker/Packer
  • Shipping & Receiving Clerk, Inventory Assistant

You’ll practice in training

  • Reading pick tickets and work orders
  • Completing forms/labels (shipping, receiving, damage reports)
  • Basic workplace math (weights, counts, unit conversions)
  • Team problem-solving and safe lifting basics
  • Time management: batching picks, staging orders

Day-one confidence

  • Pick and pack an order using a ticket and scanner
  • Create a correct shipping label with counts and weights
  • Stage outgoing pallets and document received stock

Pathways up

  • Inventory Control → Lead Hand → Supervisor
  • Cross-train to Purchasing or Logistics Coordination

Transferable Skills All Streams Build

  • Communication: clear, polite, to the point
  • Find & Use Information: read tickets, signs, forms quickly
  • Working with Others: hand-offs, asking for help early
  • Digital Basics: POS/handhelds/spreadsheets at a beginner level
  • Self-Management: showing up on time, handling a rush, staying calm

How we make it stick

  • Short practice scenarios that mirror real workplaces
  • Immediate feedback from instructors
  • A Durham College micro-credential you can share on your resume/LinkedIn
  • Connection to community employment services for resume and interview prep

What makes Essential Skills different (and helpful)

  • Fast, in-person, and free. Funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development as part of Employment Ontario’s Literacy and Basic Skills program.
  • Task-based learning. You practice the exact tasks used on the job—no fluff.
  • Support built in. Friendly instructors, small classes, and a connection to community employment services for resume and interview help. You also get a Durham College micro-credential when you finish.
  • Local focus. Training content mirrors what Durham Region employers say they need: communication, customer service, and teamwork—plus basic digital skills like POS. (Durham Workforce Authority)

2025–2026 Essential Skills training dates (Durham Region)

All sessions are in-person at partner sites across Durham Region.

Training dates can change—always check the Essential Skills Training page before you register.

Food & Beverage Industry Training

  • Apr 6–17, 2026 — Oshawa (Durham Region Unemployed Help Centre)
  • May 18–29, 2026 — Whitby (YMCA)

Warehousing Industry Training

  • Feb 24–Mar 6, 2026 — Oshawa (Durham Community Health Centre)
  • Nov 17–28, 2026 — Pickering (Pickering Welcome Centre)

Essential Skills & Employment Preparation

  • Jan 12–23, 2026 — Ajax (Agilec)

Essential Skills for Administrative Assistance

  • Feb 24–Mar 6, 2026 — Oshawa (Durham Region Unemployed Help Centre)
  • Apr 6–17, 2026 — Ajax (VPI Employment Services)

What you’ll walk away with

  • Confidence with POS systems, customer service, and cash basics (retail & food service)
  • Stronger reading, math, and “find & use information” skills that show up in Durham job ads
  • Practice completing workplace forms, labels, and tickets (warehousing)
  • A Durham College micro-credential and a pathway to local employment help, so you can go from training to interviews fast.

How to register (it’s simple)

  1. Apply online to start your Essential Skills assessment.

  2. We’ll place you in the right session and confirm your start date.

  3. Show up, learn by doing, and get job-ready.

     Apply here: Essential Skills Application

Get Started Today

Register for an upcoming 2025–2026 session listed above or on the training dates page.

Have more questions? Email us at essentialskills@durhamcollege.ca for friendly help.

There are jobs in these industries within reach. Let’s bump up your resume and build the skills employers in the Durham region are hiring for.