B.C. officials invest $5M to support diverse apprentices

Key Takeaways:

• The funds will go towards groups that support the province’s goals of recruiting young people, Indigenous people and women into the trades and guiding them along their apprenticeship journey.
• It will also support the development of more workers to get into home construction.
• Over the next decade, there are expected to be 83,000 job openings for tradespeople. On average, approximately 6,400 apprentices complete their training each year. 

The Whole Story

The government of B.C. is investing $5 million to support individuals entering the trades and help them complete their apprenticeships. 

“This $5 million will do two things: help get people through apprenticeships by targeting organizations that provide apprentices with support, but it’s also to raise the profile and prestige of the trades,” said Andrew Mercier, B.C.’s minister of state for workforce development.

Over the next decade, there are expected to be 83,000 job openings for tradespeople. On average, approximately 6,400 apprentices complete their training each year. 

The funds are specifically targeting underrepresented groups like women, young people and Indigenous people. They also will go towards developing workers for critical parts of the industry, like homebuilding. 

The province’s strategy is to boost existing groups that are already accomplishing these goals. The $5-million investment will be allocated to six organizations specializing in attracting individuals to the skilled trades and providing support throughout their pre-apprenticeship training and apprenticeships. 

“This is about making sure we are supporting the communities and the organizations in the industry that are doing a lot of the heavy lifting, particularly those who work with the vulnerable, at-risk and underrepresented apprentices,” said Mercier.

The organizations that will benefit from this funding are:

•  The Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS), 
• The BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT), 
• The Canadian Home Builders Association of BC (CHBA BC) 
• The Construction Foundation of BC (CFBC), SkillPlan, and Skills Canada BC.

“This is about making sure we are supporting the communities and the organizations in the industry that are doing a lot of the heavy lifting, particularly those who work with the vulnerable, at-risk and underrepresented apprentices,” said Mercier.

In addition to expanding access to trades training and apprenticeships, the provincial investment aims to remove barriers for underrepresented groups, including women and Indigenous Peoples. 

The funding will support the development of new and improved programming, as well as resources for equity-serving groups. Anti-racism initiatives, inclusivity-based workplace training programs, and student bursaries will also be enhanced, further promoting diversity and inclusion in the trades.

While women comprise 50.6% of the population between 15 and 65 in B.C., they currently represent only 10.1% of all apprentices in the province. 

“Every time I speak with tradeswomen I always ask about their journey and experiences in the industry and listen to their stories,” said Mercier. “The one thing that keeps coming back is the role of mentorship. We want to make sure we are supporting groups that provide that.”

He noted that BCCWITT has built up an informal support network of mentors that the group is looking at formalizing. 

Indigenous people account for 13.3% of the population between 15 and 65 in B.C. Currently, 8.5% of all apprentices in the province are Indigenous, with Indigenous women making up 1.5% of the total apprenticeship population.

Mathew Sheena, an apprentice at the Electrical Joint Training Committee (EJTC), shared his personal experience: “I was at a point in my life where I felt lost and down, struggling with no sense of direction. But then, I crossed paths with ACCESS and joined the entry-level trades training program at the EJTC. These programs turned my life around, giving me back control over my future, as well as a solid career and big dreams.”

Mercier noted that in addition to supporting underrepresented groups, the funding will try to bolster the homebuilding sector. 

“We want to build a lot of homes and we need to make sure we are supporting the skilled workforce that can do that,” he said. “Residential construction is a unique market and sometimes supports are aimed more broadly at the ICI sector and others.” 

The investment in trades training aligns with the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, which focuses on increasing accessibility, affordability, responsiveness, and relevance of education and training. The plan seeks to prepare individuals for both current and future job opportunities. The province has committed $480 million over three years to support the implementation of this action plan.