School District 34 in Abbotsford will receive $40,000 in funding for the Youth Work in Trades program to boost trades training for young people in the province.

Youth Work in Trades, formerly Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA), is a dual credit program that provides an opportunity for B.C. students in grades 10, 11 and 12 to begin their apprenticeship journey. The funds support school districts in placing students with local employers to attain practical experience. Students will earn a paycheque while gaining credit toward their high school diploma and the apprenticeship portion of their trades training.

Allocation of Youth Work in Trades funding reflects regional and school districts’ needs. These funding opportunities directly support the goals of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint to realign training investments to better prepare the province’s youth for a successful career in skilled trades.

The funding helps districts cover staffing costs to support and guide youth in securing jobs and employer sponsorship required to enter the trades apprenticeship system. It will also help youth transition from technical training to work-based training, and build further awareness of opportunities in the skilled trades among youth, parents, educators and employers in their communities.

The B.C. government committed an additional $7.8 million from Budget 2016 to the Industry Training Authority (ITA) for its youth program expansion over the next three years. This has allowed the ITA to expand its youth trades training programs including the funding of an additional 18 school districts in 2016-17, for a total of 45 school districts.

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.

The second annual Apprenticeship Recognition Week was held Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 in celebration of apprentices and their employers throughout the province.

Quotes:

Michael de Jong, MLA for Abbotsford West –

“The new Youth Work in Trades program is one of a suite of programs that shifts education and training to better support B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint. It allows secondary school students to begin their trades careers sooner, allowing them to transition smoothly from school to the workplace.”

Simon Gibson, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission –

“The $40,000 in new funding for Youth Work in Trades will allow School District 34 to give students more supports as they transition into skilled trades careers.”

Darryl Plecas, MLA for Abbotsford South –

“On-the-job training is necessary for apprentices to learn their skilled trade. The funding for School District 34 will go a long way to secure jobs for students who start to learn their trade at the secondary school level. This is one way B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint is providing B.C. students with a head start to hands-on learning in our schools.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority –

“We are pleased with this funding support for ITA’s youth trades training programs from the B.C. government. School districts play a key role in connecting youth with employer sponsors, and this funding will help ensure that the right connections are being made and that students are graduating with the right skills and knowledge to attain successful careers in the trades.”

Quick Facts:

• Last year the B.C. government invested more than $17.4 million in secondary school trades programs.
• ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including 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/

Industry Training Authority Youth: http://www.itabc.ca/youth/

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

September 2016 youth program announcement: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016JTST0152-001775