MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2006

The issue of skill shortages has governments across the country scrambling to show that they are responding to industry needs. In a recent press release the BC government gives the impression that apprenticeship training is healthy and growing across the province. Nothing could be further from the truth.

BC is now in the third year of a complete overhaul of technical trades training in the province. Under the new model, the BC Industry Training Authority (ITA) moved away from the traditional apprenticeship model towards a new “trainee” system. In a recent press release the ITA announced that the number of registered apprentices/trainees had increased to 25,404. The ITA calls this a “whopping” 73% increase over the number three years ago.

There are three problems with these statistics. First, the numbers are not accurate. Before the staff cuts in 2002, the government could ensure that apprentices who terminated (quit) or completed their training were removed from the database. Today, with 75% less staff than four years ago, it takes up to 18 months to remove registered apprentices who have left the program. Secondly, apprenticeship registrations depend on the number of available jobs. Over 50,000 new jobs have been added to the BC construction industry since 2002. Given the dramatic rise in employment, the province should be boasting over 30,000 registered apprentices. And third, if the statistical numbers don’t look good, change the definitions. Today apprentices can be mere “trainees” with no contract obligation to an employer (job). Further, the ITA has broken programs into pieces so that more certifications and completions can be added to the statistics.

Completion rates are the “key indicator” of the success of any apprenticeship program. The ITA boasts about an increase in completion rates. ITA statistics show an increase of 4% completions in the provincial certificates category, from 2,378 to 2,474. What the ITA omits is that even with the addition of the new “trainee” designation, this is a 40% drop from the year 2000, when 4,014 provincial certificates were issued.

Equally the ITA fails to mention the slump in completions for the “Red Seal” category. “Red Seal” is important as it sets the national standard and permits inter-provincial mobility for workers. Mobility is important for industry; it enables labour shortages in one part of the country to be filled by qualified workers who are unemployed in other provinces. ITA statistics show that the “Red Seal” completion rate is down to 1,545. This is a 50% drop from 3,093 completions in 2002. Why have “Red Seal” certifications declined in BC through a period of high employment?

The ITA defends itself against these charges by pointing to declining completion rates across the country. This is only partially true. While completions have dropped in Ontario, completion rates for “Red Seal” trades have continued to grow in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

The changeover and downsizing to the new apprenticeship model saw the elimination of experienced counsellors who monitored training, reviewed applications for examination, and administered exams. In a chaotic unregulated construction industry, apprentices get lost having to schedule their own school time or in the shuffle from one employer to the next.

Alberta spends roughly the same as BC on apprenticeship training, and certifies completion for more than 5000 “Red Seal” apprentices each year. The difference is that the Alberta government has retained staff and especially counsellors, to support and monitor apprentices throughout their four years of apprenticeship. Alberta also relies heavily on a tri-partied approach to trades training. Labour, employers, and government work together to develop curriculum, exams and monitor apprentices. In BC, the government has excluded labour and cut staff.

It’s time for the BC government to be honest about the failure of the new BC trades training model. It’s time for the government to involve all stakeholders in a collaborative partnership to create a strong construction industry beyond 2010. Let’s face the problems together and work toward a better future for apprenticeship and training in B.C.

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For further information contact Wayne Peppard at 604-291-9020 or 778-388-0014 COPE 15

For further information contact 

the BCYT-BCTC office:  604-291-9020

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