Hiring Apprentices: The Secret to Success

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Hiring ApprenticesThe Secret to Success
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Have you heard?
Skills shortages are already being experienced
in some sectors and regions.
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Future Forecasts

• By 2020, Canada will be  facing labour shortage
  of  nearly 1 million workers.

Skills shortages pose a serious threat to the
competitiveness of Canadian industries and is
likely to get worse.
Source Conference Board of Canada, 2001
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The Workforce is Aging
In 2021

• In 2001

RESULT Employers will have increasing
difficulty to find workers

• Between 1987 and 1990, 29 of people retired
  before the age of 60. Between 1997 and
  2000,that rate grew to 43
• 48 of Canadas aging workforce are eligible to
  retire in the next 5 to 10 years

Source Statistics Canada
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Adding to the Problem
Perceptions of Skilled Trades are Negative

• There are deep-rooted, negative perceptions about
  apprenticeship and careers in the skilled trades.
• There is a lack of awareness about the
  opportunities and benefits in skilled trades and
  apprenticeship.
• Apprenticeship is not viewed as a viable
  post-secondary education option by youth.
• Too few parents and educators are encouraging
  youth to consider apprenticeship or careers in
  the skilled trades due to lack of awareness or
  negative perception of this career path.

Only 28 of youth have indicated that their
parents have encouraged them to pursue a career
in skilled trades. Only 14 of youth indicated
that their guidance/career counsellors have
encouraged them to pursue a career in skilled
trades.
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Another issueEmployers are not Hiring Apprentices

• Equally important is that some employers are
  unable or unwilling to fully train new
  apprentices decreasing the opportunity for a
  younger, qualified workforce to replace ageing
  workers.

Employers Who Hired Apprentices 17.6
Employers Who Have Never Hired Apprentices 55
Employers Who Have Hired Apprentices In the
Past, But Not Presently 27.4
Only 18 of employers in skilled trades
industries are currently hiring apprentices.
(Source Canadian Apprenticeship Forum,
Skills/Compétences Canada, 2005)
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Proactive Approach is Needed
Skill shortages are expected to impact virtually
every sector of our labour market, in every area
of the country. We must act now if we are going
to address the human capital concerns in the
trades area.
Allan Bruce, International Representative,Internat
ional Union of Operating Engineers Co-Chair,
Skilled Trades Promotion ProjectMember, Board of
Directors, CAF-FCA
The need for a concerted and effective approach
to attract youth into skilled trades is critical
to overcoming the existing skills shortages
issues.
Terry Cooke, President, Skills/Compétences Canada
Co-Chair, Skilled Trades Promotion Project
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• What is the
• solution?

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Apprenticeship One of the Solutions

• Hiring apprentices now will help your business
  in the future.

Increases your competitiveness Workers with
on-the-job and in-school training Produces
better quality work Apprentices are motivated to
learn your business and will work hard and
effectively for your business Improves staff
retention Apprentices adopt more easily company
values and are more likely to remain with the
employer than non-apprentices since you have
invested in them from the start Reduces
your costs The higher productivity and loyalty
of apprentices enables companies to recover
much of the costs involved in training new
employees Addresses the skills shortage
Apprenticeships address short-tem recruitment
problems and also secure the skills and workforce
of the future
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Hiring Training Apprentices Makes a Difference

• By hiring apprentices, you will be developing a
  learning culture within your workplace, showing
  your commitment to developing quality skills and
  inspiring others to continue to improve their
  trade.
• Apprentices are keen to learn and
  theirenthusiasm is contagious to other staff.

• Apprentices will learn the latest technology and
  best practices during their technical training to
  not only increase their own skill but also that
  of existing employees.

Supporting apprenticeships in your business
creates a workplace learning culture, with
returns flowing form skilled workers and
increased productivity.

• Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour
  Congress
• Member, Order of Canada, 2000

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What employers tell us
Apprentices are the first link to the success of
Canadian businesses. They are eager and want to
learn, greatly contributing to productivity and a
quality product. Once they are certified, they
become the main stay of our business as skilled
journeypersons. Supporting apprenticeship ensures
that industry will have a strong workforce well
into the future. Without qualified employees, I
simply wouldnt have a business.

• Don Oborowsky, President, Waiward Steel
  Fabricators Ltd.

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What employers tell us

Apprentices are the future of skilled trades we
need them. Without apprentices there will be no
skilled trade workforce.
Tim Flood, John Flood Sons (1961) Ltd.,
Canadas oldest construction company.
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Top reasons employers hire apprentices
Source Employer Benchmarking Study, Skilled
Trades A Career You Can Build On, 2005
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Apprentices Contribute to a Stable Workforce

• Training apprentices is the best insurance
  against future shortages of skilled workers in
  your company and industry.
• Having the vision to begin training your future
  workforce now will result in a competitive
  advantage down the road.

Training apprentices ensures a secure supply of
tradespeople and helps keep industry standards
high.
Martin Luthi, Fairmont Banff Hotel
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Apprentices are Trained to Company Needs and
Culture

• Apprentices are trained by the companys
  journeypersons and they inherit the skills and
  unique values that represent your firm.

The advantages of apprenticeship to employers
are many,   not the least of which is they can
initiate each apprentice to   new tasks on their
equipment using their own methods.   Safety
procedures can be monitored and customized to a
  specific workplace, thus reducing the risk of
accidents.
Valerie Overend, Red Seal journeyperson carpenter
and Executive Director of Saskatchewan Women in
Trades Technology (Sask WITT)
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Apprentices Contribute to Staff Loyalty

• Employers play an important role in determining
  the loyalty of their apprentices. By providing
  quality mentoring, you are investing in a
  long-term employee.
• 60 of employers who currently hire apprentices
  estimate that most or all of their apprentices
  will complete their apprenticeship with their
  company.
• Employers indicate that almost two-thirds (63)
  of journeypersons have completed a portion of
  their apprenticeship training with their current
  employer.

Training apprentices enables employers to
develop their   workforce, train them well, and
gain their commitment.
Denise Miedzinski, Canadian Tire Corporation
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Apprentices are an Investment not a Cost
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Apprenticeship is Good for the Bottom Line
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Apprenticeship is Good for the Bottom Line
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• What exactly is
• Apprenticeship?

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Apprenticeship is a Partnership
Apprenticeship is a legal agreement between an
apprentice, an employer and the
Provincial/Territorial Apprenticeship Authority
to provide the necessary skills and training to
an apprentice in a specific trade.
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Apprenticeship is a Post-Secondary Option

• It is a form of post-secondary education like
  university and college
• Apprentices are mentored by experienced
  journeypersons in the practical application of
  the skills of a trade
• Is a structured combination of in-school (20)
  and on-the-job (80) education
• It leads to a Certification of Qualification and
  journeyperson status
• Depending on the trade, an apprenticeship will
  range from two to five years

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What do I have to do?
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Assess Your Business Needs

• Define the role an apprentice would play in your
  business
• Identify a journeyperson capable and committed to
  training new staff
• Check regulations and legislation, and where
  appropriate, refer to the conditions of any
  collective agreement

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Find an Apprentice

• Look to hire from within. Some of your full-time
  or part-time employees could make excellent
  apprentices.
• Qualified candidates can also be found with the
  help of the following organizations
• Local Apprenticeship Authority
• Trade / Industry Associations
• Unions and Joint Training Committees
• Colleges and Training Institutions
• Local Secondary Schools or School Board Offices
• Advertise in newspapers, on job boards or the
  internet Monster.ca, Workopolis,
  working.canada.com, etc.

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Understand and Commit to Your Responsibilites

• Sign an agreement with the apprentice outlining
  the responsibilities of all parties throughout
  the duration of the apprenticeship
• Complete the employer part of the contract and
  send the final document to the local
  Apprenticeship Authority
• When the registration is complete, the apprentice
  begins on-the-job training
• Pay the apprentice a fair salary
• Develop an effective training plan with the
  apprentice
• Keep accurate records of the on-the-job
  training hours and type of work usually in an
  official record book or log

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Understand Your Partners Responsibilities
Designating and authorizing educational
institutions to deliver in-school training
Finding an employer
Committing to a period of on-the job and
in-school technical training
Setting tuition fees and paying in-school
technical training costs not covered by these
fees
Paying tuition fees for technical training
Tracking their training progress
Issuing certificates, monitoring, and verifying
record books of apprentices
Developing and managing examinations and issuing
final Qualification of Certification
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Understand that Support may be Available

• Governments are finding solutions to the skills
  shortage problem and investing more in the
  apprenticeship system.
• The newly elected federal government announced
  plans for a tax credit program within their
  election platform
• Some Provincial governments have implemented tax
  credits for employers
• INCLUDE ANY LOCAL SUPPORT FROM APPRENTICESHIP
  AUTHORITY
• Colleges are expanding and creating programs
  designed to train skilled workers.
• INCLUDE ANY LOCAL PROGRAMS OF TRAINING
  INSTITUTIONS

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Contact your Local Apprenticeship Authority

• Once you have identified an apprentice, contact
  your local Apprenticeship Authority the
  Provincial/Territorial Government Department or
  Ministry responsible for education, training, or
  labour to register your new employee as an
  apprentice.
• Your local Apprenticeship Authority also has tons
  of resources and tips on setting up your program,
  and will answer questions on completion
  requirements for specific apprenticeships.
• INSERT LOCAL INFORMATION

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• How can I help make apprenticeship work in my
  business?

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Consider these Tips

• Carefully Select your Apprentice take the time
  you need to ensure that you hire the apprentice
  that will fit your workplace
• Inspire an Apprentice demonstrate how their
  role will assist your whole business
• Respect the Need for Classroom Training this
  training is very valuable to the
• apprentice and to you
• Demonstrate your Pride - proudly display the
  achievement of your apprentices and
• other workers as they accomplish their
  training goals
• Be a leader Lead by example, and give credit
  where credit is due
• Be organized Plan with your apprentice daily,
  weekly and monthly training activities and
  monitor their completion regularly
• Be a mentor In addition to being a good
  trainer, you should strive to act as a mentor and
  advisor for your apprentices, particularly when
  it comes to professional development
• Be a communicator Strive to provide regular
  feedback to your apprentices on the
• progress they are making or not making

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Make the InvestmentHire and Train an Apprentice
Learning technical skills in a classroom setting
is important. However, it is the on-the-job
mentoring of apprentices by experienced
journeypersons that is the most critical. The
quality of our next generation of skilled
tradespeople will depend on the availability of
apprenticeship opportunities.
Terry Cooke President, Skills/Compétences Canada
Co-Chair, Skilled Trades Promotion Project
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I believe that one of the keys to economic
prosperity for Canada is the ability to attract
investment through the development of a highly
skilled, productive and mobile workforce. To
develop such a workforce we must upgrade the
skills of the existing workforce where necessary,
and look to attract the best and the brightest of
those seeking to enter the workforce.
Allan Bruce, International Representative,Internat
ional Union of Operating Engineers Co-Chair,
Skilled Trades Promotion Project Member, Board of
Directors, CAF-FCA
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• Questions?