Analysis

This report looks at completion and discontinuation rates of registered apprentices using two longitudinal cohorts created from the Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS). These cohorts comprised registered apprentices who first enrolled in an apprenticeship program in 1994 or in 1995.

The purpose of the study is to provide measures of completion of apprenticeship programs and information on the learning paths of the apprentices tracked over an 11-year period. It follows two other reports published in 2005 and in 2008, which examined the same issues. In those studies, results for three provinces - New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta - were analyzed for the cohorts of new apprenticeship enrolees in the years 1992 and 1993. The current report includes three new provinces: Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia.

Completion and discontinuation are discussed in relation to the age of the apprentices, major trade groups, nominal duration of programs, time spent in the program for completers and discontinuers and whether or not the trade was covered by the Red Seal Interprovincial Standards Program. Detailed data tables provide information for individual trades in each of the six provinces.

Potential shortages in specific trades and specific areas of the country are forecast for the coming years in Canada. One particular aspect being examined is the perceived low completion rates of Registered Apprentices (RA). This pilot study follows a longitudinal cohort of registered apprentices, who first started their programs in 1992, over a period of 11 years. The report discusses the quality of, and gaps in, current administrative data available to measure completion rates. Finally, it presents methodological work to highlight pros and cons of different approaches to calculating a completion rate.

This report looks at completion and discontinuation rates of registered apprentices using two longitudinal cohorts created from the Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS). These cohorts comprised registered apprentices who first enrolled in an apprenticeship program in 1994 or in 1995.

The purpose of the study is to provide measures of completion of apprenticeship programs and information on the learning paths of the apprentices tracked over an 11-year period. It follows two other reports published in 2005 and in 2008, which examined the same issues. In those studies, results for three provinces - New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta - were analyzed for the cohorts of new apprenticeship enrolees in the years 1992 and 1993. The current report includes three new provinces: Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia.

Completion and discontinuation are discussed in relation to the age of the apprentices, major trade groups, nominal duration of programs, time spent in the program for completers and discontinuers and whether or not the trade was covered by the Red Seal Interprovincial Standards Program. Detailed data tables provide information for individual trades in each of the six provinces.

Potential shortages in specific trades and specific areas of the country are forecast for the coming years in Canada. One particular aspect being examined is the perceived low completion rates of Registered Apprentices (RA). This pilot study follows a longitudinal cohort of registered apprentices, who first started their programs in 1992, over a period of 11 years. The report discusses the quality of, and gaps in, current administrative data available to measure completion rates. Finally, it presents methodological work to highlight pros and cons of different approaches to calculating a completion rate.