Shaping the Future of Canada’s Construction Labour Market Through Apprenticeship Programs
As we bid farewell to 2023, a comprehensive analysis of Canada’s national labour market reveals industry stability. After years of fear due to the skilled labour shortage and a transition crisis, a closer examination of Statistics Canada’s December 2023 Labour Force Survey suggests a positive shift in the construction sector.
In December, the construction sector witnessed a marginal decline in employment, experiencing a 4.1% decrease from November, resulting in the loss of 66,700 jobs. However, on a year-over-year basis, December 2023 employment was only down 1.1% from the same month in 2022. The industry’s overall unemployment rate rose to 5.9% in December, indicating a month-over-month increase of 1.4 percent.
A significant trend observed throughout 2023 was women’s rise in skilled trade employment. Employment among women aged 15 and older increased by 7.8% for the year, while there was a 60% surge in employment for women aged 15 to 24. This increase may suggest that perceptions of the construction industry are improving. This shift aligns with ongoing federal support for apprenticeship development and the construction industry’s proactive approach to addressing labour force challenges.
With BC’s need for more skilled trade workers come plenty of job openings and opportunities. The Electrical Joint Training Committee (EJTC) is always looking for and accepting applications for their apprenticeship program to help fill the empty gaps.
The EJTC offers one of the highest-quality apprenticeship programs in B.C. Their apprentices become members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 213, and as union members receive ongoing training and upgrading, they have access to higher wages, benefits, and job security.
The EJTC is a partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 213 and the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) of B.C. They have provided apprenticeship training in B.C. for more than 100 years and are proud of their record of service and quality.
The significant part about being an apprentice is the ability to start making money immediately, “earn while you learn.” A new apprentice who enters the skilled trades today and continues to learn may earn more than $100,000 per year after completing and becoming a journeyperson.
For more information about construction labour conditions, read:
For more information about apprenticeship opportunities at The EJTC, please get in touch with them directly.
Phone: (604) 571-6540
Email: [email protected]
Written by: Savannah Davis, ClearWater Communications Co.