"Even before the recession hit, we realized professionals training for a new career would need help across two- and three-year academic programs," McGuinty said. "Second Career is aimed at helping such people retrain for new careers in high-demand fields."

Second Career is helping some 21,000 laid-off workers transfer their skills to in-demand fields such as nursing, information technology, engineering technology, policing and community and social services.

The program provides support for things like tuition, books and living expenses that allow workers to participate in long-term training.

Established in June 2008 - before the worst of the global recession - the program's three-year goal of helping 20,000 laid off workers has been surpassed after just 16 months.

The average Second Career participant is about 40 years old, with an equal proportion of men and women participating in the program. About one quarter of Second Career participants have come from Ontario's manufacturing sector.

McGuinty meanwhile defended his government's move towards sales tax harmonization next summer.