National Adult Literacy Database

Building a Case for Pursuing and Completing an Apprenticeship

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

The goal of this project was to assess the outcomes of apprentices, and compare those outcomes with the outcomes of individuals who did not complete an apprenticeship; graduates of other college programs; and individuals who did not pursue any postsecondary training.

The authors analysed several surveys of provincial college graduates as well as the National Apprenticeship Survey (NAS) and the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Only the four provinces that collected and were able to share relevant data were included: British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

For the purpose of comparing college outcomes, the authors identified four distinct groups: apprenticeship completers; trades program completers; graduates of selected applied and technical programs; and all college completers, excluding trades programs.

The findings showed that individuals who complete apprenticeships are more likely to be working, both immediately after graduation and several years later; have better earning potential, in both the short and long term; and report higher levels of job security and satisfaction.

This document was prepared by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF), a national non-for-profit organization that promotes apprenticeship as an effective means of training and education.

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Added: 2011-03-18

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• Évaluation des résultats des programmes d'apprentissage

Final Report

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

The authors of this report have used both quantitative and qualitative research methods to explore the challenge for apprentices of finding an employer-sponsor.

The authors have analysed statistical trends based on Statistics Canada’s National Apprenticeship Survey (NAS) data collected in 2007. They also held 13 focus groups where more than a hundred apprentices talked about their experiences in finding an individual employer sponsor. The focus groups were held from March to June 2009 and included apprentices from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Some of the suggestions that emerged from the focus groups included continuing support for career awareness programs and pre-apprenticeship programs; communicating the value of apprenticeship to employers; and creating a list of employers who are interested in hiring apprentices.

This document was prepared by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF), a national non-for-profit organization that promotes apprenticeship as an effective means of training and education.

Added: 2011-05-31

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• Le défi posé par la recherche d’un employeur parrain

Case Studies of Organizations Assisting Visible Minority/ Racialized Groups Seeking a Career in the Skilled Trades

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

Produced under the guidance of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF), this report focuses on eight programs that connect members of visible minority/racialized groups with employers in the skilled trades. The authors note that “visible minority/racialized” is currently the preferred term and means Chinese, South Asian, Black, Arab/West Asian, Filipino, South East Asian, Latin American, Japanese, and Korean persons, but does not include Aboriginal peoples.

The programs all deal with the skilled trades. Programs that deal with employment in general and did not have at least some trades focus were not included in the study.

The main part of this report describes each of the eight programs in detail, highlighting the areas the interview subjects thought worked well and pointing out areas that needed improvement.

Among the challenges cited were the struggle to find employers for job placements; the need for enhanced communication about apprenticeships; and the sustainability of programs.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum is a federally chartered not-for-profit organization working to promote apprenticeship as an effective model for training and education with an overall goal of contributing to the development of a skilled, productive, inclusive and mobile labour force.

Added: 2011-03-25

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• Ménager une place à la diversité et créer des possibilités de carrière dans les métiers spécialisés

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

This report summarizes information on employers’ hiring practices and attitudes toward apprenticeship, based on surveys completed in February 2011 with employers in the skilled trades from across Canada. The report builds on baseline data obtained by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) in 2006.

The survey results show that employer participation remains steady at 19 per cent, with participation higher among employers who have journeypersons.

Other findings include an improvement in the proportion of employers who indicated that they would be likely to hire an apprentice in the next 12 months; an increase in the average number of apprentices per employer; and an increase in the number of employers who believe in the business case for hiring apprentices.

At the same time, the authors point out that many employers remain unfamiliar with apprenticeship training, even though they are in sectors with trades that have apprenticeship programs.

CAF is a national not-for-profit organization, guided by a board of directors who represent all aspects of the apprenticeship community.

Added: 2011-12-06

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• Les employeurs et l'apprentissage au Canada

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

This report grew out of a forum held in February 2010 that brought together stakeholders in apprenticeship programs from across Canada.

Key suggestions from the forum included communicating to youth, parents, educators, guidance counsellors and employers the benefits of participating in a high-school-to-apprenticeship transition program; recognizing learner achievement to encourage completion of such programs; enhancing program flexibility and adaptability; getting buy-in from school boards, administrators and industry to grow and maintain programs; and doing more to measure the performance of transition programs.

Data from a survey showed that only seven per cent of people registered as apprentices in Canada between 2002 and 2004 had taken part in a youth apprenticeship program before leaving high school.

Added: 2010-05-18

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• Le passage de l'école secondaire à l'apprentissage au Canada : La recherche et le partage de pratiques exemplaires

Final Report

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

In 2011, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) commissioned a study to measure the impact of its work, with particular emphasis on determining if barriers to apprenticeship training have been reduced in recent years; understanding future priorities for the apprenticeship community; and providing insight into how CAF can best serve the apprenticeship community.

The online survey of apprenticeship stakeholders showed that most are familiar with CAF and most believe its activities have raised awareness of apprenticeship in Canada. Among the priorities for the future stakeholders cited were conducting more research on barriers to apprenticeship; developing a promotional campaign; and talking to employers about the business case for apprenticeship.

While a minority of stakeholders said barriers have been overcome, others pointed to new barriers that are emerging, including the availability of mentors and qualified instructors.

CAF is a national organization that brings together all the players in Canada’s apprenticeship community.

Added: 2011-12-06

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• Les programmes d'apprentissage et le secteur public : Accroître l'engagement et la participation

A Study of 16 Trades - Phase II: Final Report

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

In this study, carried out by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) during 2008, almost 1,000 employers in 16 different trades in a variety of sectors completed a survey on the costs and benefits of apprenticeship training.

The authors say this study confirms that the benefits of apprenticeship training outweigh the costs, especially when the gains to overall business performance are taken into account. They found that for every $1 spent on apprenticeship training, an employer receives an average benefit of $1.47 or a net return of $0.47.

Analysis over the four-year apprenticeship shows that the average net benefit varies from one trade to another, with benefits ranging from $39,524 for a cook to $245,264 for a heavy-duty equipment mechanic.

The study includes a detailed analysis of three specific trades that shows there is a return for all sizes of businesses, in all regions of the country.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum is a not-for-profit organization working to influence pan-Canadian apprenticeship strategies and to promote apprenticeship as an effective model for training and education with the goal of helping to develop a skilled, productive, inclusive and mobile labour force.

Added: 2011-03-29

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• Il est payant d'embaucher un apprenti : Le calcul du Rendement des investissements en formation pour les employeurs de métiers spécialisés au Canada

Stakeholders' Feedback on the Barriers to Apprenticeship: Final Report

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

This report follows up on a 2004 study by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) on the barriers to apprenticeship training in Canada. That study found nine barriers, including negative attitudes towards apprenticeship and a poor image of trades; concerns about apprentices’ basic and essential skills; a lack of support for trades within school systems; and a lack of resources to support apprenticeship.

The authors of this document describe the findings of a 2008 survey of apprenticeship stakeholders, which showed that while there is moderate awareness of the CAF and its mission, there is still a need to improve perceptions of the status of apprenticeship training in Canada.

The authors note that while a large number of stakeholders are aware of the nine barriers, there is only a moderate belief among CAF stakeholders that the apprenticeship community is properly addressing these barriers at present.

Established in 2000, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum is a not-for-profit organization working to influence apprenticeship strategies across Canada and to promote apprenticeship as an effective model for training and education with the goal of helping to develop a skilled, productive, inclusive and mobile labour force.

Added: 2011-03-29

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• La situation actuelle de l'apprentissage

A preliminary investigation

Authors: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)

This study was undertaken by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) to find out more about workplace accommodations and to assess the current situation for persons with disabilities in the skilled trades.

The authors sought out the opinions of both employers in the skilled trades and apprentices with disabilities. They based their findings on information from secondary sources produced by the disability and apprenticeship communities; statistical data on education, employment, and workplace accommodations; and focus groups and interviews.

Employers interviewed for the study recommended clarification of the rules and regulations for hiring persons with disabilities; the provision of incentives such as tax credits; and the creation of special programs that would allow apprentices with disabilities to work with journeypersons.

Persons with disabilities who took part in the study suggested developing a mentoring program; creating networking and information-sharing opportunities; and using tutors who have knowledge of the trades, perhaps by recruiting retired journeypersons as tutors.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum is a not-for-profit organization working to influence apprenticeship strategies across the country and to promote apprenticeship as an effective model for training and education with the goal of helping to build a skilled, productive, inclusive and mobile labour force.

Added: 2011-04-01

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• Les aménagements spéciaux pour les personnes handicapées dans les métiers spécialisés