Forty-five school districts throughout British Columbia will each receive funding of between $20,000 and $40,000 for the Youth Work in Trades program to boost trades training for young people in the province.

The B.C. government, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA) is investing $1.18 million in school districts in every region of the province to give high school students a head start on reaching their career goals.

The B.C. government committed an additional $7.8 million from Budget 2016 to the 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.

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.

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.

A backgrounder follows.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour –

“Young people are the future workforce of our province and we want them to be at the front of the line for the almost one million job opportunities open by 2025. That’s why we are making investments in youth apprenticeship training programs throughout B.C. – which will give students earlier opportunities to learn about the trades, will provide a clear path for students to discover, explore, train and work in the trades, and will ultimately yield better outcomes, including higher transition rates into full apprenticeships.”

Mike Bernier, Minister of Education –

“The world is changing and we need to make sure our kids have the skills they need to succeed. That is why our new curriculum is making sure students learn the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic in a way that connects them to the collaboration, critical thinking and communications skills they need to excel in university, in skills training, and the workforce.”

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