Canadian Apprenticeship Forum Asks:
How do apprentices fare in the workforce?

Ottawa, March 23, 2011 - An imminent labour shortage is a common subject of today’s headlines, and the skilled trades will be among the hardest hit.  Apprenticeship is a solution, but only if today’s youth can be convinced there are viable and challenging career opportunities for those who become certified in their trade.

The construction sector estimates the need for 316,000 workers to replace the retiring workforce by 2017.  In the automotive sector, shortages over the next ten years are projected to be as high as 77,000 employees.  The Canadian tourism sector predicts the labour shortage will cost it billions of dollars.  As each of these sectors considers apprenticeship as a potential solution to replenishing the workforce, now is the time to show apprentices their value in the workforce.

In the latest issue of the Canadian Apprenticeship Journal, this is the topic of a slate of articles, featuring subjects such as:

• Building a case for pursing apprenticeship
• Details of a recent study analyzing completion rates in England’s apprenticeship system
• Looming labour shortages in the tourism sector and how the culinary qualifications framework can help

“Apprenticeship completion is a topic with many contributing factors and a wealth of debate about how to address it,” says Sarah Watts-Rynard, Executive Director of CAF-FCA.  “Our recent Assessing Apprenticeship Outcomes: Building a Case for Pursuing and Completing an Apprenticeship study showed the significant benefits for apprentices who become certified in their trade.  We need to share this message.”

The Canadian Apprenticeship Journal is a venue for presenting high-quality, relevant research and informative feature articles.  It is a forum for discussion and debate in the apprenticeship community on a national and international level.  Contributors include researchers, educators, policy analysts and key decision makers who focus on apprenticeship training and certification issues.  Other important contributions come from provincial/territorial apprenticeship authorities, employer and labour associations, as well as international apprenticeship bodies.  This is the fourth issue available online at www.caj-jca.ca.

CAF-FCA, is an inclusive national body that brings together all of the stakeholders in Canada’s apprenticeship community. Visit www.caf-fca.org for more information.

For more information:
Marie Bilodeau
Communications Manager
613-235-4004 ext. 207
marie_bilodeau@caf-fca.org
http://www.caf-fca.org