Minister releases The Apprenticeship Experience

John Ottenheimer, Minister of Education, today released The Apprenticeship Experience: 2003 Survey of Registered Apprentices of Newfoundland and Labrador. The survey was conducted during the winter and spring of 2003.

This report, which was jointly funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador under the Labour Market Development Agreement, provides policy makers and program administrators with insight into the experiences and challenges faced by apprentices in the province, beneficial at a time when there is an increasing need for skilled labour.

"This is the largest and most comprehensive survey of apprentices ever undertaken in the province," said Minister Ottenheimer. "Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is predicting a shortfall of skilled trades persons into the next decade, a prediction supported by our province's business community. In light of the increased need for skilled labour both nationally and provincially, a report detailing the experiences of apprentices as they progress through the apprenticeship system is an excellent tool for the Department of Education, the Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board and training institutions in planning next steps for the immediate future."

Areas explored in the report include the employment status of apprentices prior to registration as well as current status, their in-class training and on-the-job work experience, and their level of satisfaction with the trade program. The study also examines sources of funding, difficulties experienced by apprentices in finding trade-related employment, and their pursuit of advanced level training. A final section, devoted to the unique experience of women in trades, is also included in the report.

Of the 8,741 active and inactive apprentices in 2002, 83 per cent were male and 17 per cent were female. A total of 4,401 graduates (50 per cent) were tracked for the survey.

Copies of The Apprenticeship Experience are available by calling (709) 729-0233 or online at

Media contact: Lynn Salter, Communications, (709) 729-0048

BACKGROUNDER

• The vast majority of registered apprentices are male (83 per cent).
• On average, apprentices were just over 30 years of age.
• Over 53 per cent of males were married compared to 49 per cent of women
• About 46 per cent of women had dependent children compared to 37 per cent of men.
• Approximately 65 per cent of apprentices reported a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest level of education. Another 14 per cent held a college diploma and 10 per cent had only some high school.

• The majority of surveyed apprentices (86 per cent) successfully complete their entry-level training.
• While 79 per cent logged some on-the-job hours, apprentices in a number of trades are still experiencing difficulty in obtaining sufficient hours in trade-related employment.
• Almost 70 per cent of apprentices who logged hours did so only in Newfoundland and Labrador, 13 per cent logged all their hours outside the province while 18 per cent logged hours both in and out of the province.
• Only 20 per cent of those who intend to write the journeyperson examination had pursued further trade-related training even though completion of advanced-level courses is a prerequisite for writing the exam and becoming certified.
• At the time of the survey, 54 per cent of apprentices were employed, and the vast majority were employed on a full-time basis.
• Over half (53 per cent) of full-time employed apprentices were employed as apprentices in their trade while 26 per cent were in jobs not at all related to their trade, mostly due to better job opportunities.
• Apprentices employed full-time in their trade were paid on average $13.69 per hour. Those in employment directly or indirectly related to training but not as apprentices earned the highest hourly wages, at $16.28 and $16.11, respectively. Those in employment not at all related to their trade earned the lowest hourly wage ($12.43).
• Apprentices employed in their trade worked the fewest number of hours per week (45.1). Those employed in jobs either directly or indirectly related to their trade but not as apprentices worked on average 46.4 and 48.9 hours per week, respectively. Those in employment not at all related to their trade worked an average of 45.6 hours per week.
• Just over half (54 per cent) of unemployed apprentices were seeking employment as apprentices in their trade, six per cent were seeking employment in the trade but not as apprentices, 24 per cent were seeking any type of employment at all, while 14 per cent indicated they were not seeking employment.

Women in Trades

• Small numbers of women in Newfoundland and Labrador participate in the skilled trades occupations. While the proportion of females in apprenticeship is growing, it is still only 17 per cent of the total and largely dominated by hairstylists and, to a lesser degree, cooks. There is only a small fraction of women in All Other Trades (industrial trades), making them a very under-represented group.
• In the non-traditional trades, women reported less trade-related employment than men. The average hourly wages and hours worked per week are also considerably less for women. Hairstylists excluded, women worked on average 40.8 hours compared to 46.7 for men and earned on average $10.96 per hour compared to $14.56 per hour for men.
• This gap in hours and wages is even greater in the Hairstyling trade (39 hours for women compared to 52 for men and $7.58 per hour for women compared to $10.50 for men).
• A lower percentage of female apprentices logged hours in their trade compared to men and fewer intended to write the journeyperson examination.

2004 06 14                                        2:05 p.m.