ONTARIO 2012 BUDGET INCLUDES MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN APPRENTICESHIPS

Ontario's apprenticeship system is a key part of building the well-educated and highly skilled workforce the Province needs to compete in the current and future economy.

Over the past eight years, the government has significantly expanded the apprenticeship system, nearly doubling the number of apprentices in the province to more than 120,000.

However, studies have found completion rates average about 50 per cent among Ontario apprentices.

The strength of the apprenticeship system needs to be measured both by the proportion of apprentices who complete their programs and obtain certification and by the growth in the number of new registrations.

The Province will help apprentices complete their training by focusing on getting the right people into the right jobs to support key sectors of the economy.

Measures will include:

• introducing technical literacy and numeracy support to apprenticeship training and expanding examination preparation courses to help apprentices complete their training;
• redesigning the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and Pre-Apprenticeship Program to enhance their effectiveness;
• enhancing connections between apprenticeship and employment services to facilitate links between individuals and employers;
• introducing targeted strategies and pilot projects to address barriers to entry and increase success in apprenticeship for key groups, including youth, Aboriginal Peoples and women; and
• reviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Ontario Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit to increase the completion rate of apprenticeships.
  
  

Measures to improve completion rates will benefit apprentices through better employability and earnings, and will enhance their ability to find and keep jobs.