CAF-FCA Press Releases

Ottawa, ON – November 14, 2008 — Choosing a career can be one of the most important decisions a person can make. The month of November sees many career awareness events and activities taking place throughout the country. This equals a great opportunity to learn about careers and open young people’s minds to the possibilities.

Getting the facts about career options is vital in order to challenge the misconceptions that exist and to prevent young people from making misinformed decisions. Learning as much as you can up-front about the options available can be a big help!

At the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum-Forum canadien sur l’apprentissage (CAF-FCA) we are involved in research and promotional activities that support apprenticeship, and are well known for our national campaign - Skilled Trades, A Career You Can Build On.

During this career focus month, we encourage employers to invest in an apprentice today. Investing in apprenticeship makes good business sense! We also encourage youth, parents, and educators to explore information on the skilled trades. You might be surprised about what you learn … careers in the skilled trades provide opportunities for respect, opportunity, and good pay!

Respect

Apprenticeship training is integral to our economy, and touches every aspect of our lives: from the homes we live in, to the cars we drive, to the food we eat. This form of post-secondary education combines on-the-job training and in-school learning - earning while you learn - and opens doors to a wide range of rewarding and well-paying careers.

Opportunity

Skilled trades provide opportunities for a career, not just a job.

• Completing an apprenticeship is a starting point on a career path, not the end point!
• Many people who start off as apprentices in a company can become managers.
• Many journeypersons go on to own their own businesses.
• As a fully certified journeyperson, there may be opportunities to mentor others. You can teach others your trade as well as learn from them. Mentoring opportunities ensure you remain motivated and excited about your job throughout your career.

Good Pay

The National Apprenticeship Survey Canada Overview Report 2007 by Statistics Canada (NAS) http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/81-598-XIE/81-598-XIE2008001.htm.

Recently released statistics from the NAS indicate good employment outcomes for those who complete their apprenticeship:

• 88% of completers were employed and 80% of completers had permanent jobs.
• Over half of completers earned between $20 to $50 an hour.
• Almost 75% of completers had a higher annual income than the median annual earnings of Canadians.
• 40% of completers reported having annual earnings of $60,000 or more.

CAF-FCA is involved!

To promote careers in trades, CAF-FCA will be involved in a wide range of activities throughout this month. This includes meeting with Canadian employers to discuss the business case for training, and attending a variety of promotional events aimed at promoting careers in trades to young people. Specifically, you will find us at the Human Capital: Your Competitive Advantage Conference on November 13 in Grimsby, Ontario and at the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Conference on November 18 in Windsor, Ontario.

Watch for our feature articles on apprenticeship training in two new national magazines in November and December - Career Options the High School Edition and Canadian School Counsellor - and stay tuned for the launch of our apprenticeship information contest in December 2008. Check out www.careersintrades.ca for more on the upcoming contest and for information on careers in the skilled trades.

Contact:

Debbie Miller,
Communications Manager
613-235-4004 ext. 207
debbie_miller@caf-fca.org
www.caf-fca.org