Not only is it important to the economy to attract more young people into the trades, but the trades themselves are an increasingly appealing alternative to college or university. It's estimated that close to 700,000 jobs will open up in BC during the next 10 years, the majority of them in trades and technology. But there may not be enough young people entering the trades today to fill those jobs tomorrow. By the end of the decade the proportion of workers about to retire, aged 55 to 64, will outnumber new labour force entrants. In industries traditionally involving apprentices, attrition is expected to account for 60 per cent of job openings, compared to 53 per cent for the labour force as a whole.
Apprenticeship is attractive on a number of fronts.
As well, there's no guarantee after four years of study of finding a job in the student's chosen field. Apprentices spend approximately 80 per cent of their time learning on the job and 20 per cent of their time learning in the classroom. Apprentices start earning immediately, usually at around 50 per cent of the journeyperson rate with an increase every six months. Beyond the financial aspects, apprenticeship also opens doors to an incredible variety of interesting and challenging careers in everything from aerospace to electronics to film, with a whole lot in between. And just like BC's changing economy, apprenticeable trades are being added every year in new and growing industries like the high-tech and hospitality sectors.