OTTAWA, March 31 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum-Forum canadien sur l'apprentissage (CAF-FCA) has released reports on two important studies examining the return on apprenticeship training investment for apprentices.

Conducted in collaboration with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), the two studies compliment the CAF-FCA's groundbreaking 2006 investigation into the return on apprenticeship training investment for employers.

Apprentices Enrolled at Publicly Funded Canadian Colleges and Institutes examines the profile of apprentices enrolled in classroom training at publicly funded Canadian colleges and institutes.

Some key findings of the studies are:

• Earning potential for apprenticeship graduates is highly competitive with those of graduates who have pursued other post-secondary options. Average direct costs for apprentices - such as tuition, textbooks and tools - also compare quite favourably to those of other post-secondary options.
• Among the apprentices studied, the length of time required to find an employer-sponsor ranged up to twenty-four months. Because longer search times increase costs and create barriers to the development of a skilled labour force, further investigation into the reasons for this variance is recommended.
• Aboriginal peoples, women, visible minorities and youth continue to be under-represented in apprenticeships, and are an untapped source of talent given the impending shortage of skilled labour in Canada. According to the demographic profile of those apprentices studied, the typical apprentice is a 26- to 28-year-old white male with no dependents.
• Mentorship - including family, friends, other tradespeople, and employers - ranked as the most important influence for apprentices. Teachers, employment counsellors and support organizations ranked among the least important, suggesting a need to get more and better information in the hands of those who advise young Canadians on career options.

Both studies were funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC).

The CAF-FCA is a not-for-profit, multi-partite organization that brings together the key constituents within the apprentice community to influence pan-Canadian apprenticeship strategies through research, discussion and collaboration.

For further information: on the studies, or to obtain copies of the reports: Debbie Miller, Communications Manager, (613) 235-4004 ext. 207, debbie_miller@caf-fca.org