The Province announced today that it has invested, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), $59,000 in the Pile Drivers, Divers, Bridge, Dock and Wharf Local Union 2404 for skills training seats in the piledriver and bridgeworker apprenticeship program.

The investment will fund 52 piledriver and bridgeworker seats through to March 31, 2017.

The funding is part of the ITA’s allocation to B.C. post-secondary institutions and training providers to run various training programs throughout the province.

In response to the objectives outlined in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and the McDonald

Report, the B.C. government has worked in partnership with the ITA to begin building a demand-driven trades training system with funding aligned to specific in-demand trades.

The provincial government invests more than $94 million annually in industry training through the ITA. The ITA leads and co-ordinates British Columbia’s skilled trades system by working with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades.

Quotes:

Scott Hamilton, MLA for Delta North –

“Apprentices and their educators are a valuable part of our province’s economy. They help fill our labour-market demands and keep our economy diverse and strong. I am happy to see that Local 2404 is receiving this funding.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority –

“B.C.’s economy is growing and is forecasted to be one of Canada’s strongest in the coming years. With more skilled tradespeople retiring from the workforce than entering it, investments like these will help equip British Columbians with the right skills to respond effectively to the upcoming job opportunities in the province.”

Darrell Hawk, training director, Local 2404 joint apprenticeship and training committee (JATC) –

“The Local 2404 joint apprenticeship and training committee, funded by industry, spends more than $500,000 each year training trades workers for the marine construction, land foundation and bridge-building industry. The ITA provides $58,000 to the Local 2404 JATC to partially fund 52 apprenticeship seats in the trade of pile driver and bridgeworker. Students are required to attend six weeks of technical training combined with a minimum 1,200 hours of work-based experience in each year of this three-year program.”

Quick Facts:

• ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including almost 50 Red Seal trades.
• There are currently more than 39,000 registered apprentices in the industry training system (including youth) – more than double the 14,676 apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.
• B.C. is expecting up to one million job openings by 2025, due to retirements and economic growth.
• Eight of every 10 of these job openings will require post-secondary education or trades training.

Learn More:

• Industry Training Authority:  http://www.itabc.ca/
• B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint : https://www.workbc.ca/Training-Education/B-C-s-Skills-for-Jobs-Blueprint.aspx
• B.C. Labour Market Outlook: www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Information/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx