Feds invest in Aboriginal apprenticeship program
- EFN Staff | February 13, 2015
An Aboriginal apprenticeship project is “the right program at the right time in the right place,” says an independent review, released today, of the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiative.
Under the Aboriginal apprenticeship project, entry-level Aboriginal workers are matched with employers willing to train them as apprentices. Businesses across the province have proven eager to provide the training, role models and mentorship to new apprentices entering the trades.
“The Saskatchewan economy needs trades people and Aboriginal people need access to good jobs that help support their families. The GDI Aboriginal Apprenticeship project helps make that match. It’s a win-win situation,” said Glenn Lafleur, Vice Chair of the Gabriel Dumont Institute Board of Governors.
The federal government seems to agree that Aboriginal apprenticeship is the way to go, as today it announced a $3.1 million investment. The investment will support Gabriel Dumont Institute Training & Employment (GDIT&E) to help train 150 new Aboriginal apprentices in trades experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, as identified by local industry and the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission. These trades include boilermakers, bricklayers, construction craft labourers, ironworkers, machinists, automotive technicians, power line technicians, electricians, plumbers and others.
“Our Government is pleased to invest in trade apprenticeship opportunities for Aboriginal peoples through the Gabriel Dumont Institute. This program helps address the need for qualified individuals across a wide variety of in-demand trades, while also helping to bridge the gap from skills training to employment for Aboriginal peoples. With our support, more individuals will be able to benefit from the economic opportunities available to skilled trades,” says Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar .
Doug Elliot of Sask Trends Monitor, a publication that tracks social, economic, and demographic trends in the province, says providing skills training to include Aboriginal youth is a smart long-term investment.
“Even with strong population growth, low unemployment, and high enrolments in Saskatchewan’s apprenticeship programs, over 30 designated trades in the province will be experiencing shortages of skilled workers this year.”
The project is province-wide and includes employment opportunities in the North where trades workers are needed and many skilled-trade jobs go unfilled. The project provides quick access to the growing Aboriginal labour force. Apprenticeship training is demand-driven and necessary for economic growth.
The full report can be read here.
Significant findings of the report include:
- The fastest growing industry groups are those that are heavy users of apprentices.
- The province requires 2,000 new journeypersons per year to maintain the previous apprenticeship growth rate of 8.6%.
- In July 2014 Saskatchewan experienced its lowest unemployment rate ever at 3.3%. With employment growing at unprecedented rate employers need to reach untapped populations, including Aboriginal people, for workers.
- There is high demand for skilled workers in construction trades across the province. These trades, particularly carpenters and electricians, account for the majority of apprentices in the GDI Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiative.
- Investment in education and skills training will enable more Aboriginal people to get gainful employment in the trades sector.
- Among Aboriginal people 25 to 34 years of age, the employment rate more than doubles from those who have not completed high school to those with a trade certificate (32% and 65% respectively).
- 223 Aboriginal apprentices have been placed with employers as part of the GDI Aboriginal apprenticeship project.
- 157 Aboriginal apprentices were indentured in their trades as a part of this project.
- The GDI Aboriginal apprenticeship project increased the number of indentured Aboriginal apprentices in Saskatchewan by 13% between 2011-2014.
The independent review makes over 15 recommendations that are designed to improve and expand the Aboriginal apprenticeship program that is already working well. The recommendations range from increasing female participation, targeting in-demand trades outside construction, and reaching out to more young Aboriginal people who reside in southern Saskatchewan. Other recommendations are designed to improve success with a variable wage subsidy and more project partners.
Related stories:
- GDI wraps up its Aboriginal apprenticeship initiative
- Apprenticeship win-win for students, employers
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