Women gain ground in apprenticeship training

Ottawa, ON — Registrations for apprenticeship training programs increased in all major trade groups in 2005, Statistics Canada reported in November 2007. In addition, women are gaining ground in apprenticeship training, and in 2005, they accounted for almost one out of every 10 people who registered for training.

In 2005, total registrations hit 293,835, up 9.7% from 2004 and the biggest single-year increase since 1995.

The largest gain occurred in the building construction trades group, where 68,705 people registered for training in 2005, an increase of nearly 8,100 from 2004. Registrations rose by 5,700 in the metal fabricating group, and by just over 4,000 in the electrical, electronics and related trades group.

British Columbia had the greatest increase in registrations over 2004, at 20.5%, with Alberta and the Yukon both at over 12%, and Ontario at 10.0%. Almost half of the gain in the metal fabricating trades was attributable to Alberta, with 2,500 registrations.

Completions of apprenticeship training have also been on the rise. They hit a high of 20,555 in 2005, up 4.3% from 2004.

Four trade groups accounted for three-quarters of completions. Those in the metal fabricating trades accounted for 23.0% of the total, the highest proportion. This was followed by the motor vehicle and heavy equipment trades group at 21.7%, the electrical, electronics and related trades group at 18.3%, and the building construction trades group at 14.4%.

The two provinces and territory with the greatest increase in completers in 2005 were Newfoundland and Labrador at 26.9%, British Columbia at 24.8%, and the Yukon at just over 24%. The largest increase in numbers occurred in Quebec (+295) in the building construction trades, and in Alberta (+170) in the electrical, electronics and related trades.

Between 1992 and 2005, registrations by women in registered apprenticeship training more than tripled, from 8,225 to 28,755. Since 1998, they have more than doubled. In 2005, women accounted for 9.8% of total apprentices, double the proportion of 4.5% in 1992.