January 2008

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Community Literacy of Ontario

Our Voice

Apprenticeship: Facts, Figures and Opportunities

By Lynne Wallace and Sandra Hennessey of the College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading

Canada is facing a critical shortage of skilled labour. According to diverse sources, there could be as many as 50,000 unfilled jobs by 2010. Many trades and businesses are already claiming a shortage of skilled tradespersons and report that the shortage is a pressing issue. The Ontario government has implemented a number of initiatives to increase the supply of skilled tradespersons. MTCU has a four-year plan to boost apprenticeship training in Ontario. It is investing over 11 million annually to provide opportunities for 26,000 people to train as apprentices for careers in the skilled trades. Youth, in particular, are being encouraged to pursue a career in the skilled trades.

Apprenticeship careers offer Ontarians an opportunity to earn excellent wages in rewarding work environments with high levels of job security and employment mobility. This bulletin is intended to provide you with some essential information about how apprenticeship works in Ontario. The following websites were used as sources to develop this bulletin.

College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading
⇒ www.collegeupgradingon.ca/

Fanshawe College
⇒ www.fanshawec.on.ca/newsletter/2005/08/2.asp

Halton Industry Education Council
⇒ www.apprenticesearch.com/

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
⇒ www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/training/apprenticeship/appren.html

Ontario Chamber of Commerce
⇒ www.occ.on.ca/

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Waterloo Region District School Board
⇒ www.gooyap.ca/index.html

Red Seal Program
⇒ www.red-seal.ca/