(Halifax) The federal government is announcing nearly $247 million to help create more than 25,000 skilled trades apprenticeships across Canada.
Posted at 6:03 p.m.
Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough points out that the money will fund 13 schemes to help small and medium-sized businesses provide apprenticeship training. She made the announcement at the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum’s 2022 National Apprenticeship Conference, which takes place in Halifax from Sunday to Tuesday.
In a press release, Mr.me Qualtrough says more than $45 million will go to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum to help hire 4,000 first-year apprentices in construction and manufacturing trades.
Ottawa says employers would be entitled to double the amount if they hire certain equity-seeking groups like women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and racialized people.
About 700,000 skilled workers are expected to retire in Canada by 2028, according to the government.
The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum says in the release that meeting the demand for skilled workers will require hiring an average of 75,000 new apprentices per year over the next five years.
“Canadians need to be able to seize these opportunities and access the tools, training and resources they need to thrive,” said Ms.me Qualtrough. The apprenticeship system is one of the optimal ways to achieve this. »
The most sought-after tradespeople are welders, millwrights, masons, boilermakers, cooks and hairdressers.
According to BuildForce Canada, the construction industry alone will need to recruit 309,000 new workers over the next decade to meet projected demand.
The Executive Director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, France Daviault, welcomed the announcement.
“Our community understands the need to encourage and support employers to hire new apprentices,” said Ms.me Daviault in the press release.