There is a first year boom in apprenticeships, but more is needed
The SkilledTradesBC Year in Review report is out, and numbers for first-year apprentices look encouraging.
The best results are among electricians (Construction and Industrial), powerline technicians, pipefitters, sheet metal workers, gas fitters, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, says David Ribeiro, Director Industry Relations, Automotive Retailers Association.
According to the report, new apprenticeships in those designated trades are up 28 per cent compared to all other trades, which grew by five per cent.
“Once the province adopts the three automotive sectors (Mechanical, Collision Repair and Refinish Technician), this would result in an influx that is desperately needed and would reinforce the apprenticeship training programs offered by the colleges,” says Ribeiro.
The Chief Operating Officer of SkilledTradesBC, Karen King, points out that nearly 50,000 apprentices across B.C. are a testament to the growth and success of the system.
“Our success is defined not only by the growth of the apprenticeship system but also by the experiences of our customers and stakeholders throughout the entire apprenticeship journey,” says King.
SkilledTradesBC anticipates that more than 100,000 skilled trades career opportunities are expected across the province in the next decade.
“We are committed to building a skilled workforce that is inclusive, innovative, and responsive to B.C.’s ever-evolving labour market,” says King, who points out that apprenticeship registrations are at an all-time high after the Skilled Trades Certification came into effect a year ago for seven electrical and mechanical trades in B.C.
While Ribeiro is encouraged by the initial numbers, he is drafting a letter for B.C.’s Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, Jessie Sunner, to share his concerns over the drop in numbers in the follow-up years of apprenticeships:
- While the number of registered first-year apprentices attending school appears to be healthy, it is troubling to see that these numbers drop off significantly in subsequent years as compared with certified trades, due to a lack of incentive for completing apprenticeships and/or achieving journeyman credentials.
- Those trades that have been certified are enjoying clear advantages, with a 28% increase in apprentices and more than a 40% increase in individuals applying for trade qualifiers.
- There is a need to reaffirm a timeline and a commitment from the government to implement Compulsory Trade Designation for the already confirmed three automotive sectors (Mechanical, Collision Repair Technician and Refinish Technician).
Numbers from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) show that more than 250,000 new apprentices will be needed over the next five years to meet the demand for automotive service technicians nationwide.
The Automotive Industries Association (AIA) cites a Canadian Ernst & Young Labour Market Research Report from 2023 that vacancies for automotive service technicians increased by 65 per cent from 2021 to 2022.
In addition, a labour gap of more than 4,000 automotive service technicians is “expected to persist between 2024-28,” according to the AIA Canada, with 49,000 members of the automotive repair and maintenance industry either approaching or past retirement age nationwide.