The perception of the trades as a career is shifting as record numbers of both first-year apprentices and overall apprentices in B.C. have increased, said Shelley Gray, CEO for SkilledTradesBC and the first woman to head up the organization.
“The process has been one of breaking down the stigma of trade jobs and showing they are well-paying jobs and offer lots of opportunity,” she said as numbers spike upward.
Approximately 15,000 new apprentices registered in 2023-24, up 21 per cent from the previous year and above the annual average of 12,000 to 13,000.
The construction sector also saw increases. In 2023-24, there was a 17 per cent increase in overall apprenticeship registration in construction trades. New apprentice registration increased by 32 per cent between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The 2023-24 overall figures recorded 47,000 apprentices registered with SkilledTradesBC.
“That is the highest recorded in B.C.,” Gray said, as more individuals are seeing the value of a trade career and the lifestyle it can offer.
During the past 10 years, she said, the figure has gone “up and down” ranging between 35,000 to 38,000 apprentices.
Gray said it is significant that higher numbers are also coming from underrepresented areas of the population.
Approximately 10 per cent of apprentices now registered are women entering skilled trades such as electrical.
“A critical mass is occurring and this can help to define the culture and create a more welcoming work place,” said Gray.
SkilledTradesBC, which replaced the Industry Training Authority in December 2022, was given a name change to better reflect an “inclusive and modern approach” to bringing new entrants into the trade as mandated, said Gray.
SkilledTradesBC co-ordinates the province’s skilled trades system working with employers, employees, training providers to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships and provide program standards.
The organization has also strengthened its programs in high schools with approximately 10,000 students participating in trades program this past fiscal year.
“They were able to explore these trades and get hands-on experience,” she said.
Gray said SkilledTradesBC has focused on establishing the Skilled Trades Certification program over the past year. A framework and support for individuals and employers are in place for the seven mandatory or compulsory trades now being provincially certified. Tradespersons must either be an apprentice or certified as a journeyperson.
The seven trades are in electrical (construction electrician, industrial electrician and power line technician) and mechanical (refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, gasfitter A&B, steamfitter/pipefitter and sheet metal worker)
Three automotive trades will be introduced to the certification program in the next phase but with a year to transition. The three trades are heavy-duty equipment technician, automotive service technician and auto-body collision technician. Currently, no phase-in date has been announced.
The certification program establishes a B.C. standard as opposed to the Red Seal national standard. Tradespersons who have successfully passed the Red Seal examination receive an endorsement on their provincial certification. SkilledTradesBC manages nearly 90 trades programs in the province, 48 of which are Red Seal.
The organization serves as a facilitator but doesn’t match individuals to employers.
“We are neutral and don’t want to be seen as favouring any employer,” said Gray, but adds the organization has 25 regional placement officers throughout the province that are networking with employers, can provide information on youth programs, foundation courses, serve as a conduit for post-secondary training in skilled trades and work with a range of partners that can offer financial and program support services.
WorkBC also offers information on trades training as well as labour information on what trades are in demand.
SkilledTradesBC works with a range of partners, Gray said, including Trades Training BC, which is a consortium of 15 public post-secondary educational institutions. The portal TradesTrainingBC.ca offers a seat finder feature where tradespeople can find either the next available seat at a nearby institution or throughout B.C.
The portal also features information on all trades available with information ranging from apprenticeship to Red Seal and refresher courses. Another feature is the job board with available posting for trades.
Gray sees the future work as bringing in more underrepresented sectors of the population into apprenticeships and continuing on with the certification.
SkilledTradesBC has worked with Indigenous People in Trades and projects such as the Kitselas 5-Tier Training Program. The K5T Program is a community-built job and skills training system for community members within the Kitselas First Nations and the Greater Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine.
Gray said the organization also works with BC Women in the Trades and while the number of women in trades is growing, retention is also a key consideration. There is the opportunity to send female tradespersons into high schools to speak about their careers and show gender is not an issue.
“There is a still a long way to go and we can’t rest on our programs,” she said.
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