The Government of British Columbia celebrates Apprenticeship Recognition Week (Nov. 4 to Nov. 10, 2018) and the many roles that apprentices play in supporting a strong, innovative economy and building the best B.C.

“An apprenticeship can open the door to lots of exciting career opportunities in a range of sectors,” said Shaelyn Hayes, welder apprentice. “For me, I’m pursuing a career as a welder. I’m on track to achieving my Red Seal certification before the age of 22 in a trade that I love and am very passionate about.”

An apprenticeship in a skilled trade is an important entry point to a long-lasting career that can provide rewarding opportunities around the province. A key element of apprenticeship is on-the-job training. About 80% is on the job, while 20% is technical learning in the classroom.

“We’re investing in trades training so people all over the province can get the skills and opportunities they need to get good-paying, family-supporting jobs,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “Apprenticeship Recognition Week acknowledges the hard work of the next generation of tradespeople and apprentices who are building the best B.C.”

To fill about 71,000 job openings in the skilled trades over the next decade and support a strong, sustainable, innovative economy, the Province is creating more opportunities for people who want a rewarding career in the trades.

B.C. government actions include:

• Investing in Indigenous skills training development.
• Building a future workforce through effective apprenticeship ratios.
• Supporting programs that encourage more women in the building trades.
• Partnering with industry, post-secondary institutions and all levels of government to make sure students have the right facilities and tools to prepare them for 21st-century jobs.

“Apprentices are the future of trades in B.C. and we’re grateful for the thousands of apprentices that help build, make and maintain the province we call home,” said Shelley Gray, interim CEO, Industry Training Authority (ITA). “Every day, apprentices work with their head, heart and hands to make sure the roads are safe for travel, homes have power and heat, and the culinary scene in B.C. is world class. So this week, for Apprenticeship Recognition Week, we thank and applaud the hard work of apprentices throughout the province.”

Quick Facts:

• This is the fourth annual Apprenticeship Recognition Week in British Columbia.
• There are more than 35,000 adult apprentices, over 5,000 youth program participants and over 4,000 foundation students in B.C.:
  • 9% of apprentices are women.
  • 7% of apprentices are Indigenous.
• B.C. is home to more than 100 trades – from automotive technicians to chefs to welders – 49 of which are nationally recognized Red Seal programs.
• The ITA expects to fund over 26,000 apprenticeship and foundation training seats this year at public and private institutions.
• Since August 2018, the Province has opened seven new or upgraded trades training facilities in Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Prince George, Vernon and Terrace.
• More than $5.4 million was invested in 2017-18 in industry-standard training equipment to give trades and tech students the skills they need to succeed.