Report September, 2008 How Many is Too Many?

Transcription

1 Report September, 2008 How Many is Too Many? A comparative analysis of journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios across Canada Plamen Petkov, Senior Policy Analyst Introduction Canada currently has 13 different apprenticeship systems, where each province and territory develops its own training and certification programs. Training agreements between apprentices and their sponsor (employer) are governed by provincial/territorial authorities and are subject to different sets of legislation and related regulations. To be eligible to train apprentices employers are required to employ a certain number of journeypersons in the business. As apprenticeship is a provincial/territorial responsibility the actual journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios for each trade vary across the country. The following concise analysis compares ratio requirements in each Canadian province and gives an indication of the measures some jurisdictions have taken to encourage innovation and flexibility in their apprenticeship training systems. British Columbia The Industry Training Authority (ITA) is the provincial government agency that governs BC s apprenticeship training system. ITA requires the work-based training of each apprentice to be completed under the supervision of one tradesperson (journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio: 1:1). In order to create a more flexible training system that provides a timely supply of skilled labour, the ITA gives employers the flexibility to determine how best to manage an apprentice in a training program. As long as the 1:1 ratio is maintained, there are currently no ITA requirements related to the: Number of certified tradespersons on staff Number of apprentices that can be sponsored.

2 Alberta The Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board (AAITB) recently acknowledged that the shortage of skilled tradespeople is particularly harmful to small and medium-sized business, as qualified workers are moving to higher paying jobs at large unionized businesses. Almost all trades in Alberta now allow employers to employ one apprentice for each journeyperson they have on staff (1:1 ratio). Because of growing concerns in the SME sector, the AAITB decided to provide additional flexibility to employers. The following changes, recommended by the AAITB, were approved by Alberta s Minister of Advanced Education and came into effect in spring 2006: In the steamfitter-pipefitter, ironworker and boilermaker trades, the ratio was changed from three journeypersons to one apprentice (3:1) to one journeyperson to one apprentice (1:1). In the hairstylist trade, the ratio was changed from one journeyperson to one apprentice (1:1) to one journeyperson to two apprentices (1:2). There are now eight trades with ratios of one journeyperson to two apprentices (1:2). Historically, ratios have been used as a way to ensure quality on-the-job training. The AAITB does not believe these changes compromise the quality of training that apprentices receive. Saskatchewan In Saskatchewan the journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios are generally 1:1. In addition, the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Act,1999, and subsequent regulations allow employers in certain trades to hire more than one apprentice for every journeyperson on staff. A few examples include: Food and Beverage Person 4 1 Guest Services Representative 4 1 Machinist 3 1 Roofer 3 1 Welder 3 1 Steel Fabricator 2 1 Electronics Technician 2 1

3 Only four trades require a more stringent ratio scheme: boilermaker, plasterer, steamfitter-pipefitter, and insulator. Employers in these trades may employ the first apprentice with one journeyperson supervising the apprentice. Subsequent apprentices beyond the first must meet the following journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio: Boilermaker 1 5 Plasterer 1 3 Steamfitter-Pipefitter 1 3 Insulator 1 2 Manitoba Since 2006, the government of Manitoba has revised regulations for several trades, and has introduced the following significant changes to apprenticeship supervision ratios: Ratios have been brought down to 1:1 in the following trades: Electrician Bricklayer Roofer Partsperson Painter and decorator Sheet metal worker Sprinkler system installer Each registered apprentice in the above trades must be directly supervised on a work site by one certified, licensed journeyperson. If an adjustment beyond the one to one ratio is required, a Request to Change Apprentice to Journeyperson Training Ratio Application can be submitted to the nearest Apprenticeship Branch and approval may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Ratios have been adjusted to 2:1 (two apprentices for one journeyperson) in the following trades: Electrologist Hairstylist Esthetician These 2:1 supervision ratios will expire by 2010, at which time the ratios will return to 1:1.

4 Ontario Apprenticeship training in Ontario is governed by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act, (ACA), and the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA). Most trades regulated under the TQAA require higher journeyperson-toapprentice supervision ratios. Following are a few examples of prescribed ratios that employers in these trades must adhere to if they hire more than one apprentice. Cement Mason 1 4 General Carpenter 1 4 Construction Millwright 1 4 Electrician 1 3 Construction Boilermaker 1 3 Sheet metal Worker 1 3 Roofer 1 3 Brick & Stone Mason 1 3 Plumber 1 3 Steamfitter 1 3 Glazier & Metal Mechanic 1 2 Ironworker 1 2 Note: Ontario s apprenticeship training system is examined in detail in CFIB s apprenticeship training report: Lessons Not Learned, February Quebec Along with Ontario, Quebec also requires higher journeyperson-to-apprentice supervision ratios for most certified trades. The following chart outlines the ratio requirements for a number of these trades. Boilermaker 1 5 Bricklayer 1 5 Carpenter 1 5 Millwright 1 5 Insulator 1 5 Ironworker 1 5 Painter and Decorator 1 5 Roofer 1 4 Glazier 1 3 Floorcovering Installer 1 2 Steamfitter 1 2

5 Very few trades (e.g. truck & transport mechanic; auto body repairer; partsperson) allow more flexible ratios. Employers in these trades may currently sponsor one apprentice for every journeyperson. New Brunswick Journeyperson-to-apprentice supervision ratios in New Brunswick are 1:1. The New Brunswick Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification Act allows an employer who employs one journeyperson in a designated occupation, or an employer who is a journeyperson to sponsor one apprentice. For each additional journeyperson employed in the business, one additional apprentice in the designated occupation may be sponsored. The New Brunswick Post-Secondary Education Minister has recently announced a major retooling plan to direct more power into the hands of apprentices and employers by making the apprenticeship system in the province more independent of government. To address the looming shortage of skilled labour, the province has committed to triple the number of apprentices supervised by one journeyperson, effectively bringing up the journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio to 1:3. Nova Scotia In Nova Scotia, employers must maintain a minimum ratio of one journeyperson to each apprentice in a designated trade, unless otherwise indicated in the trade regulations. Based on the employment situation and the availability of certified journeypersons, the following trades have different minimum ratio requirements: Ironworker 1 4 Floorcovering Installer 2 1 Steamfitter-Pipefitter* 1 3 Painter and Decorator* 1 3 Sheet Metal Worker* 1 3 * General ratio (1:1) applies to the first registered apprentice; prescribed ratio (1:3) applies to subsequent registered apprentices. Despite the specified minimum ratios, an employer may apply for permission to employ a higher ratio of apprentices to journeypersons.

6 Newfoundland and Labrador Journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio of 1:1 applies to all apprenticeship training programs approved by the Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board in accordance with the Apprenticeship Training and Certification Act. Exceptions for specific occupations may occur with the approval of the Board. Prince Edward Island The PEI Provincial Apprenticeship Board recognizes that the nature of trades work often requires workplaces to be flexible regarding journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios. For this reason, the Board has opted for voluntary recommended ratios and has not asked the Department of Education to confirm ratios in legislation. Conclusion There are currently more than 200 skilled trades in Canada and provincial governments across the country claim they work hard to increase the total number of registered apprentices. Expanding and modernizing apprenticeship training programs is a step in the right direction, especially when it comes to alleviating labour shortages in the country. Relaxing stringent supervision ratios in several high-demand trades makes good economic sense, as it provides incentives to both employers and apprentices to engage more actively in apprenticeship training. Such efforts have already proved helpful in Western Canada and the Prairies in dealing with the rising demand for skilled and adaptable trade workers. To the east, Atlantic Canada has historically had more accommodating regulation on apprenticeship training and supervision, which seems to bode well with current economic and labour demands in that part of the country. Additional measures, as tripling ratios in favour of apprentices, as recently announced in New Brunswick, are encouraging. It is Central Canada, however, that needs to go the extra mile to ensure the effectiveness of apprenticeship training programs there remain at par with the rest of the country. Current journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios in Quebec and Ontario appear to be out of touch with both the economic realities and the skilled labour pressures that the two provinces are now experiencing. Quebec and Ontario need to inject more flexibility in their apprenticeship training systems, which would require revisiting the criteria used to establish such high (and currently unrealistic) supervision ratios. Efforts in this direction would allow more young people to look at careers in the trades and would make more employers eligible to sponsor their training.