Ontario needs to reform apprenticeships: HRPA

Report calls for emulating Germany's dual vocational training system

Ontario needs to take steps to reform apprenticeships, according to a report from the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA).

It found a skilled trades shortage is costing the province $24 billion a year, and is also occurring at a time when youth unemployment in Ontario is hovering around 17 per cent.

Among the recommendations for reforming Ontario’s College of Trades, the report recommends:

• robust performance metrics and reporting on the economic impact of Ontario’s new College of Trades

• adjusting the current journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio to ensure it’s competitive with other provinces

• fair, consistent and transparent classification of compulsory trades (and providing clear rationale when deciding to make a trade compulsory)

• emulating Germany’s dual vocational training system that sees government, business and schools partner to produce apprentices and apprenticeship programs that meet the country’s skill needs

• government promotion of skilled trades careers among young Ontarians.

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