EDMONTON, Alta., July 27, 2022 /CNW/ – Now more than ever, skilled tradespeople are in high demand to fill well-paying jobs and build rewarding careers. About 700,000 skilled workers are expected to retire in Canada by 2028, creating an ever-increasing need to recruit and train thousands more. This is why the government of Canada making targeted investments to remove barriers and provide more Canadians with the apprenticeship training they need to build successful, well-paying careers in the skilled trades.
Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough announced more than $33 million over five years for the Outreach and Preparing for Skilled Trades (STAR). The STAR program encourages Canadians, especially those facing barriers, such as women, Aboriginal peoples, visible minorities, newcomers, people with disabilities and youth, to explore and prepare for careers in skilled trades.
As part of today’s announcement, Minister Qualtrough highlighted $2$0.8 million in funding to Sélections’ Career Support Services for their project, Get Ready in Trades (GRiT). This project will help young people with disabilities overcome barriers to relevant training and meaningful employment in the skilled trades. GRiT will help young pre-apprentices with disabilities by providing them with flexible and individualized career plans, opportunities for skills enhancement and work experience to allow them to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled trades.
To further support the hiring of new apprentices, the Government of Canada recently announced nearly $247 million for 13 projects under the Apprenticeship Service that will help small and medium-sized businesses hire more than 25,000 first-year Red Seal apprentices and provide them with the hands-on experience and training they need to become certified journeymen.
Quotation
“Canada needs more skilled workers. We need more women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, racialized Canadians, LGBTQ2S+ people and other marginalized people to consider careers in the trades and have the opportunity to start one. That’s why we invest in projects like GRiT and other initiatives through Canada that help create a strong, skilled and diverse workforce in the trades. »
– Minister of Employment, Vocational Training and Inclusion of People with Disabilities, Carla Qualtrough
“Tourism is a major job generator in our country and employs a higher proportion of women, newcomers, racialized people, youth and LGBTQ2+ people. Now more than ever, we need to actively recruit and train thousands of skilled workers as we recover from the pandemic, rebuild the tourism industry, and revive our tourism economy. That’s why today’s announcement will help more Albertans and Canadians get well-paying jobs and support local economies from coast to coast.
– Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Randy Boissonnault
“The Get Ready in Trades project has been instrumental to Selections for the plethora of opportunities it has provided young people with disabilities who now have the ability to start a career in the trades. This funding allows the organization to diversify services, raise awareness and promote inclusion, which has a significant impact on our community. The fundamental goal of the Get Ready in Trades program is to empower our youth to be part of the future skilled trades workforce while contributing to a growing economy.
– Executive director of Sélections career support services, Angie Amaris
Fast facts
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The government of Canada invests close to $1 billion annually in support of learning through grants, loans, tax credits, employment insurance benefits during classroom training, project funding and Red Seal program support. Announced in Budget 2019, the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy will strengthen existing apprenticeship supports and programs by helping apprentices and key apprenticeship stakeholders, including employers, participate and succeed in the skilled trades .
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According to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, meeting the demand for qualified journeypersons in Red Seal trades will require hiring an average of about 75,000 new apprentices per year over the next five years. The main occupations most likely not to meet demand are welders, industrial (millwright) mechanics, masons, boilermakers, cooks and hairdressers.
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Demand for construction trades is expected to remain high. According to Buildforce Canada, the industry needs to recruit 309,000 new construction workers over the next decade (2021 to 2030), mainly due to the expected retirement of 259,100 workers (22% of the workforce current work).
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on from Canada learning systems. The 2020 apprenticeship data shows the largest year-over-year declines in new apprenticeship registrations and certifications since the data series began in 1991.
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In Canada, young women continue to be less likely to express interest in a career in the skilled trades. According to a survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, only 2% of 15-year-old female students said they would definitely consider pursuing a career in the skilled trades.
Related products
Backgrounder: Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program
Related links
Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program
Budget 2022
Union Education and Innovation Program
Canada.ca/skilled-trades
learning service
Support for apprentices
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
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