Canada launches apprenticeship service program to double funding for employers hiring minorities

　　China News Service, June 6. According to Canada's "Sing Tao Daily" report, the Canadian federal government recently announced the launch of a new apprenticeship service plan, which will invest nearly 247 million yuan to support 13 projects to provide apprenticeship training opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. 25,000 apprenticeships will be created to fill vacancies created by a future wave of retirements.

　　Federal Employment and Social Development Minister Quartero unveiled the new apprenticeship service plan at the National Apprenticeship Conference.

　　With around 700,000 skilled workers retiring by 2028, there will be plenty of quality jobs to fill, she said.

To this end, the government provides resources to promote apprenticeship training and address labor shortages.

　　Apprentices in their first year of apprenticeships in eligible trades over the next two years will receive the experience and training they need to be awarded future accreditation in that trade.

　　Organisations that receive funding for apprenticeship services provide additional support, such as promoting apprenticeships, assisting with integration programmes for new apprentices, and creating inclusive workplaces.

SMEs that hire women, people with disabilities, Aboriginal people and people of color will receive double the reward.

　　Quartero highlighted the federal grant of more than $45 million to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum for a program that provides financial support to small and medium-sized businesses to employ 4,000 first-year apprentices in the construction and manufacturing industries.

According to statistics, to meet the job demand in the industry, 75,000 new apprentices will need to be hired every year in the next five years.

These trades include welders, mechanics, bricklayers, boiler workers, cooks and hair stylists.

　　In addition, the construction industry will need about 309,000 new workers from 2021 to 2030 to fill the vacancies created by the estimated 259,000 retirements during this period, accounting for 22% of the current industry workforce.