Craig BrockwellGovernments of all levels and political stripes have concluded that to have a functioning and effective economy, they must address the need for the skilled trades.
For years, many studies have come to similar conclusions regarding the imminent exodus of journeypersons. Each indicated substantial losses in journeypersons with an upward number of approximately 750,000 retirements over the next few years. In addition, the percentage of employers sponsoring/hiring apprentices has remained stagnant at around 18 per cent.
But without a complete change in attitude from individuals or governments, the dated incentives put in place from governments may be too little and too late to have any impact. While incentives in the form of wage subsidies to encourage employers to take on new apprentices have been around for some time, they have had little to no perceivable impact on the replacement of retiring journeypersons.
Unions, through their training trust funds, have exceptional training programs, instructors and other supports that lead to a higher-than-average completion rate when compared to the national and provincial average. Finally, governments need to ensure that programs that address the two ends of the skills gap “stick” — the employer side and the apprentice side — are rewarded. These programs need to address the impediments to entry, completion and retention such as the cost of tools, wage subsidy, travel and child care among many issues.