Learning the Trades
Canada is feeling a growing shortfall of skilled tradespeople. This shortage will clearly grow more acute in the future if not immediately addressed.
By 2020, it is estimated that Canada could face a shortfall of one million workers due to an ageing population and declining birth rates.
The first baby-boomers are due to reach retirement age by 2012. In 2015, almost half the workforce (48 per cent) will be between the ages of 45 to 64.
In the steel industry, 45 per cent of all tradespeople are expected to retire by 2006.
In the manufacturing sector, an estimated 400,000 workers will be needed in the next 15 years due to retirement.
60 per cent of parents say that they would be likely or very likely to recommend a career in the skilled trades to their children. Yet 59 per cent of young people say that their parents have not encouraged them to consider skilled trades as a career option.
47 per cent percent of youth and 41 per cent of parents hold the inaccurate view that many skilled trades involve hard, physical labour.
72 per cent of young people say their school guidance counselors have not encouraged skilled trades as a career option.
The future supply of skilled tradespeople is at risk since university is the first-choice post-secondary education option among Canadian youth and their influencers.
University is a first choice post-secondary option for 67 per cent of young people aged 13-24 and 55 per cent of adults, ahead of college and apprenticeship or trades programs (CAF-FCA/SCC poll conducted by Ipsos-Reid, 2004).
42 per cent of young people aged 13-24 said they would be unlikely to consider a career in the skilled trades, against 26 per cent who said they would likely consider that option.
A recent survey found that 37 per cent of young people aged 13-24 said their schools did not have readily available information on skilled trades, compared to 35 per cent who said their schools provided that information (CAF-FCA/SCC poll conducted by Ipsos-Reid, 2004).
With more than 200 designated trades in Canada, there is a skilled trade for every interest and aptitude.
A journeyperson certificate can lead to employment that provides an income level that is 3 per cent higher than the average income for all educational levels.
Although wages rates among the trades vary, more than 20 different trades can provide earnings substantially above average. For example, tool and die makers earn about 23 per cent more than the average. Machinists can earn wages about 6 per cent above the average. Electricians earn 16.5 per cent above the average (CFIB, 2003).
The unemployment rate for those with college or trades training is lower than average for all education levels and is on par with the unemployment rate of university graduates (Statistics Canada, 2001).
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business reported in 2003 that more than 67 per cent of its members said more students should be encouraged to enter the skilled trades.
Large capital projects intensify the need for skilled workers. For example, it is estimated that preparation for the Olympic Games in Vancouver will require 132,000 additional person-years of skilled labour. (Vancouver Sun, June 2004)
Economic trends are favouring countries and production facilities with a large pool of skilled workers (Vancouver Sun, June 2004).
Apprenticeship training combines hands-on experience with classroom learning.
Approximately 80 per cent of technical training is completed on-the-job and the remaining 20 per cent is completed in-school.
Apprenticeship training provides the opportunity to "earn while you learn" and decreases the debt load while obtaining a post-secondary education.
Apprentices are able to combine in-school training and work which reduces their debt load; however, bachelor graduates in the year 2000 often leave school with an average debt of $19, 500 (The Daily, National Graduates Survey).
In 2001, there were 217, 560 apprentices registered across the country. This is a 32 per cent increase from 1995 when there were 164, 570 apprentices registered in Canada.