
Workforce has to get younger
July 13, 2007
By PEM Magazine
A good example is the recent âSkilled Trades and Apprenticeship Awareness and Perception Study,â which was commissioned by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum-Forum canadien surlâapprentissage (CAF-FCA) and Skills / Compètences Canada (S/CC).
Study findings show careers in skilled trades continue to take a back seat to those that require a university education in the minds of most educators, parents and particularly youth.At the end of the day, young people arenât turned on by a career in skilled trades.
The study reveals that less than one third of youth (32 percent) aged 13 to 17 say they would likely consider a career in skilled trades, and less than a quarter (22 percent) of them, have actually considered this option in the past year.
Additionally, the study reveals that a university education is the preferred educational option over college or apprenticeships in skilled trades for a majority of youth (58 percent), parents (53 percent) and educators (64 percent). Only 19 percent of youth say pursing an apprenticeship or trades program is their preferred choice.
The study, based on research conducted by Ipsos-Reid Canada, shows many traditional stereotypes around gender and academic performance continue to hold when parents and youth think of skilled tradespersons. For example, 29 percent of youth say skilled trades are more suited to men, and 58 percent say they involve hardphysical work.
Additionally, only 41 percent of youth say tradespersons are respected in society, and only 45 percent say they would be proud to work in skilled trades. The status quo canât remain. In the next PEM issue, weâll profile women working in maintenance. Iâm sure their success stories will change negative attitudes. It all helps.
Robert Robertson, Editor
PEMAC Allied Member
rrobertson@clbmedia.ca
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