Province recognizes apprenticeship programs
By Contributor
The provincial government has proclaimed Friday (November 7), as B.C.’s inaugural “Apprenticeship Recognition Day” to help raise awareness of the importance of developing a highly trained and skilled workforce for key sectors of B.C.’s growing economy where skilled trades are needed.
The Proclamation was officially announced today in the British Columbia Legislature and marks Apprenticeship Recognition Day as an on-going annual event to recognize the value of B.C. apprentices and the employers who hire, train and mentor them.
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) leads and co-ordinates British Columbia’s apprenticeship and skilled trades system by working with employers, industry, labour, training providers, aboriginal communities, and government to set program standards, manage apprenticeships, issue credentials and increase opportunities in the trades.
“With $83 billion of projects under construction in our province, we need to ensure we have the right number of workers, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time,” said Gary Herman, Industry Training Authority.
“Today we are recognizing our apprentices as they are vital to building a skilled workforce in British Columbia.”
Today there are over 37,000 registered apprentices in B.C.’s industry training system – more than double the number of apprentices registered when the ITA was created in 2004. In addition, there are more than 9,400 registered employer sponsors of apprentices, up by 350 from 2012-13.
With over one million job openings expected in B.C. by 2022, government is working closely with the ITA through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint to increase the number of apprenticeships in high demand sectors, improve apprenticeship completion rates and increase the number of employer sponsors for apprenticeships.
The ITA awarded over 7,000 Certificates of Qualification (‘tickets’) to journeypersons in B.C. in 2013-14 and is working to increase that number in order to meet demand for qualified tradespersons and support B.C.’s growing economy.
Apprenticeship and employer supports include: the establishment of 10 Sector Advisory Groups which will advise government and the ITA on industry-specific issues key to skills training in the province; 15 provincewide apprenticeship advisors, including five with an Aboriginal focus; and four sector-assigned industry relations managers to better communicate and respond to each industry’s needs in B.C.
Apprenticeship Recognition Day is helping to deliver on the Skills for Jobs Blueprint commitment to build stronger partnerships with industry and labour while providing the highest level of training for B.C. apprentices.
Quick Facts:
- From 2012 to 2022, one million job openings are expected in the B.C. labour market. A scenario with 5 LNG plants operating in B.C. would add an additional 100,000 jobs by 2023.
- More than three quarters (78%) of the forecasted job openings will require post-secondary education and training, and 44% will require trades or technical training.
- The ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including 48 Red Seal trades, with the newly added Construction Craft Worker.
- Since 2004, the ITA has issued a total of over 58,000 Certificates of Qualification to journeypersons in B.C.
- Employers are an essential component of any apprenticeship – 80% of an apprentice’s practical training is spent under the guidance of their employer.
- Government invests almost $7.6 billion each year in education and training in B.C., including more than $100 million annually in industry training through the ITA.
