Registered apprenticeship training programs

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Registrations for apprenticeship training programs increased in all major trade groups in 2006, and women continued to make modest inroads in most of these programs.

In total, 328,165 people were enrolled in apprenticeship programs in 2006, up 11.7% from 2005 and the largest year-over-year increase since 1991. Apprenticeship enrollment rates have risen every year since 1996, after a period of declines in the early 1990s.

The increases in registrations ranged from 13.5% in metal fabricating trades to 8.8% in food and service trades.

Nationally, 20,855 people completed their apprenticeship program in 2006, up 1.5%. Three trade groups accounted for more than 60% of completions: metal fabricating, motor vehicle and heavy equipment, and electrical and electronics.

In all, 35,380 people withdrew from apprenticeship training programs in 2006, up 25.9% from the previous year. Men accounted for 9 out of every 10 of these withdrawals.

The largest proportion of withdrawals, almost 30% of the total, occurred in the building construction trades group.

Registrations among women increased at a slightly faster rate than they did for men. Women accounted for 10.0% of all apprentices in 2006, over twice the proportion in 1992.

Women accounted for 64.8% of those enrolled in apprenticeship programs in the food and service trades groups in 2006.

Nearly three-quarters of the 2,235 women who received their certificates in 2006 did so in the food and service trades group.

The highest growth in registrations among the provinces in 2006 was in British Columbia (+29.7%), while there was a 3.9% decline in Prince Edward Island.

Note: Data on registered apprenticeship training for 2006 were obtained using information from the Registered Apprenticeship Information System. It covers both registrations and completions. Total registered includes the still registered from the previous year, the newly registered apprentices from the current year and apprentices that have completed or withdrew from training. In most provinces, registered apprenticeship training combines on-the-job experience with periods of in-class technical training. Apprenticeship programs, depending on the trade or occupation, vary in duration from two to five years. However, it is relatively common for apprenticeship training to extend beyond the required duration. Withdrawals in apprenticeship training include cancellations and suspensions of inactive apprentices by jurisdictions; discontinuers who have notified the jurisdiction they are no longer active in apprenticeship training; and also persons who have stopped training in one trade program, and transferred to another. At any time after a cancellation, suspension or discontinuation, individuals can re-register and continue their apprenticeship training.

Available on CANSIM: tables 477-0051 and 477-0052.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3154.

Also available, in addition to registered apprentices, is information on the number of certificates awarded to trade qualifiers (challengers) that are successful in obtaining their certification in a trade without going through an apprenticeship program.

For more information, to order data, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of the release, contact Client services (toll-free 1-800-307-3382; 613-951-7608; fax: 613-951-4441; TTY: 1-800-363-7629; educationstats@statcan.gc.ca), Culture, Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics.

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