The Future of Apprenticeship
Manitoba’s economy is currently robust, and is projected to continue to have strong growth. Within our economy, there is a growing need for skilled workers who are essential for maintaining economic activity. Since 2007, the government of Manitoba has been committed to enhancing and expanding the apprenticeship training and certification system, leading to the creation of the Apprenticeship Futures Commission. The commission was formed to identify opportunities and challenges regarding the challenge to meet the changing needs of the labour market and to engage key stakeholders to develop creative, practical, and innovative solutions that focus on flexibility, enhancement, and expansion of the apprenticeship system.
The commission was formed out of the necessity to break down barriers holding people back from a career as a tradesperson by completing an apprenticeship. Common barriers include a lack of understanding on the process, a shortage of employers willing to undertake the role, inadequate financial support, and inflexible technical and practical training models. To overcome these barriers, a concentrated effort has been made to promote the importance of apprenticeship and tradespersons, as well as an attempt to streamline the application process.
The ultimate goal is for Apprenticeship in Manitoba to be a best-in-class system for trade development. In order for this to happen, the program needs to be flexible and responsive to the current and emerging needs of the labour market, focused on the employer and the apprentice as the client, based on high employer and apprentice involvement as well as high apprentice completion rates, and characterized by top quality technical and practical training.