Youth program gives trades students a head start
In many trade projects, the key to success is having a solid foundation. The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) has adopted this philosophy when it comes to developing the next generation of skilled trades workers.
Through the SATCC’s Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) program, students have the opportunity to learn more about the over-40 designated skilled trades in the province and take part in hands-on learning to get an idea of what career they may want to pursue upon graduating.
“It’s a fantastic program because it provides students with so many options,” said Paul Blankestijn, SATCC youth apprenticeship manager. “I graduated in 1985 and I don’t ever recall going to a career fair or having a guidance counsellor. You had to figure out what you wanted to do by yourself.”
He said that students can develop a career path by participating in the program and reviewing its various options. “The effort they spend in high school investing in this program is going to benefit them after high school when they’re starting on their careers.”
The ideal time for students to begin the program is Grade 10, although it’s also offered to Grade 11 and 12 students. If a student is interested in taking part, he or she needs to get in touch with the SYA champion at their school, usually the guidance counsellor, shop teacher or principal. After submitting the registration form, the student will be entered in the database and receive a SYA passport.
The student will then receive 12 challenges to complete. According to the SATCC’s 2017 Apprentice Satisfaction Survey, administered by Insightrix, 93 per cent of apprentices who completed SYA agree or strongly agree the program’s challenges were useful in preparing them to become apprentices.
One of the challenges is to research the different trades in the province to get a broad overview. Another challenge involves the student interviewing a journeyperson to learn about the job and what the daily challenges and successes are.
It’s worth noting that employers are satisfied with the work performance of SYA graduates. The SATCC’s 2017 Employer Satisfaction Survey is evidence of this. Of the survey respondents who are aware that some of their apprentices or journeypersons are SYA graduates, virtually all of them feel their SYA graduates perform as well or better than other employees – 68 per cent feel SYA graduates perform at the same skill level as other staff members, while 31 per cent say they perform better.
Blankestijn added that the 12 challenges help young people establish and make a plan. It encourages self-reflection on what they are going to do after high school, what specific trades they are interested in and what connections they have made with potential employers.
Upon graduating from high school, the next step for many of these students will be to become an apprentice, which means they’ll spend approximately 85 per cent of the time working and learning on the job from a certified journeyperson and the remaining time learning theoretical and technical skills in a school setting. The 2017 Apprentice Satisfaction Survey shows that 77 per cent of apprentices who completed SYA in high school agree or strongly agree that it was a significant influence in their decision to become apprentices.
Students who participate in the SYA program get a head start on this process. Their apprentice registration fee is waived, they aren’t charged for Level 1 technical training and they also receive 300 hours of trade time credit. In addition, there are SYA Industry Scholarships awarded to selected eligible high school graduates throughout the province who have completed the SYA program and will be pursuing a career in the skilled trades. The scholarships are valued at $1,000 each.
With these advantages, not to mention the funding students can receive through other federal and provincial scholarships, Blankestijn said young apprentices are given all the tools to succeed.
Blankestijn points out that this is a great time for students to be entering the industry. According to Buildforce Canada reports, with many of the province’s baby boomers retiring, the province will need more than 9,000 new tradespeople in the construction sector within the next ten years just to replace the retirees – and more if a resource boom happens.
Also, according to the 2016 Census data released by Statistics Canada, in 2015, the median earnings of Saskatchewan residents who completed an apprenticeship was higher than those who earned a Bachelor’s degree – $81,771 for those who completed an apprenticeship versus $74,517 for those who achieved a Bachelor’s degree. While Blankestijn points out the financial benefits of pursuing a career in the trades, he stresses that it’s not just about the money.
“If you enjoy what you’re doing and become good at what you’re doing throughout the process, you’re going to be successful,” Blankestijn said. “We’ve seen very clearly through our statistics that there are many young people that have gone through this program and are now certified journeypeople.”