1. Employer Apprenticeship [Forum] TODAY’S AGENDA
7:30 am Welcome & Buffet Breakfast
7:45 am Skilled Trades Strategy Presentation
8:00 am Apprenticeship & OYAP Process
8:30 am Employer Opportunity & Incentives Panel
8:45 am Employer Apprenticeship Barrier Survey
Good Morning and Welcome…
P2P is a province-wide program funded by the Ministry of Education and MTCU to increase employer awareness of and participation in work opportunity experiences for high school students. The campaign is an employer-led recruitment effort to help students explore career options and develop workplace skills and experience. Today’s event is an initiative of the Regional Passport to Prosperity Committee and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. The regional P2P committee is comprised of KPDSB, KCDSB, RRDSB, NOACC and CFIB representatives.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our major partners…NOHFC and Seven Generations Education Institute
I would also like to thank our local BREAKFAST SPONSOR…
Your time is valuable and we have a lot of information to provide you with so, please help yourself to the hot buffet breakfast and while you eat I will present you with our regional Skilled Trades Strategy for 2006 (…10 min break)
We have provided you with a lot a valuable information and contacts in the employer package that you received at the door/registration. I would like to quickly bring your attention to some of the contents in this package.
List of what is in the employers package:
Breakfast sponsored by:

2. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
Seven Generations Education Institute
The Passport to Prosperity Skilled Trades Strategy is designed to provide employers with the background information gathered to create awareness and understanding of our current environment. The research presented here is intended to inform local employers of the provincial and regional issues, the progress that education systems have implemented to date and our future needs, specifically those of industry and small-medium business’, as well as the contributing role employers can play in addressing the region’s skilled trades deficit.

3. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
NORTHWEST LABOUR MARKET TRENDS
High Priority Workforce Issues
Aging and Skills Shortages
Education and Literacy Levels
Resource Dependency (recent layoffs/closures)
Entrepreneurs (lack of)
Aboriginal Labour Force Growth
In order for all key partners to have a better understanding of the region it is important to review the current labour market trends.
According to the NTAB’s Trends, Opportunities and Priorities Report updated in 2005 the following workforce issues were identified as High Priority.
Aging and Skill Shortages; due to the long term declining population, lack of new immigrants and continued youth out migration our population is experiencing aging more rapidly than the province. This has resulted in skill shortages.
The Northwest’s employed labour force is less educated than is the provincial labour force and this difference is increasing with time. We have more workers reporting less than Grade 9 as the highest level achieved.
Most of our communities are dependent upon forestry and mining. The success or failure of these industries dictates the economy of the area. There is a high degree of vulnerability for resource depletion, world commodity prices, corporate policy changes, boom and bust cycles, the Canadian exchange rate, and most recently energy costs.
There are fewer self-employed people in the Northwest than there are in Ontario. From the number of self-employed decreased in twelve of the twenty-six occupation groups….this includes many trade sectors.
A recent trend worth mention is the increasing presence of the regional Aboriginal population in the labour force. Aboriginals made up only 16.9% of the active labour force in 1996 but by 2001 this percentage had increased to 21.6% and is currently 33%
Source:

4. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
Perception of the skilled trades
Low paying, involve dirty and demanding physical work and are not intellectually challenging
Only 1 in 4 would consider a career in the skilled trades
70% of parents promote college or university as a destination for their child
33% of students actually pursue post-secondary educations
17% high school students drop-out prior to graduation
Impeding the progress and growth in this sector is the perception of the skilled trades..
Low paying, involve dirty and demanding physical work and are not intellectually challenging
Only 1 in 4 students would consider a career in the skilled trades
In addition…
70% of parents promote college or university as a destination for their child, not apprenticeship and in reality…
33% of students actually pursue post-secondary educations with
17% high school students dropping out prior to graduation

5. Ways [Education Institutions] Can Help Reduce Shortage of Labour
The current education and training system in Ontario is not producing enough skilled trades workers to meet current industry demand, and this shortage will impede Ontario’s businesses’ ability to compete, grow and prosper. To overcome the widening gap between current skill levels and those needed to maintain competitiveness, companies are finding that workplace education programs are leading to a host of improvements: 98 percent of employers reported at least one employee skill and one economic benefit gained from these programs. (conference board of Canada)
According to CFIB, Survey on Labour Availability and Training there are many Ways Education Institutions Can Help Reduce Shortage of Labour
69% of businesses agree that educators need to encourage students to go into trades, focus should be put on the hands on learner versus the academic learner
65% of businesses indicated that there is a need to increase the number of students participating in coop and OYAP programs
62% stated that there is a definite need for educator’s to communicate with the local business community, as we are here today and
54% and 44% respectively agreed that education institutions need to devote more time to employment skills and basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Source: CFIB Survey on Labour 2002

6. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT REACTION
MTCU and Ministry of Education Initiatives
Canada-Ontario Labour Market Agreement (Nov 2005)
Reinvestment into technology departments/shops
Introduction of a Student Success Strategy
Introduction of a New Literacy and Numeracy Strategy
Opening Doors – Web site
Skills Connect and CareerMATTERS for students
Hiring an Apprentice for employers
The provincial government has made many announcements over the past two years to address these issues and statistics…
MTCU and Ministry of Education Initiatives include
Signing of the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Agreement (Nov 2005) with the Federal government
The province has initiated a reinvestment into technology departments/shops called Terri Funds and this will only increase yearly
They have introduced a Student Success Strategy – which includes the expansion of cooperative education programs and the addition of bundled courses in specific high-skills areas such as construction and manufacturing that would allow trade interested students to achieve their OSSD
The introduction of New Literacy and Numeracy Strategies to better prepare students for a workplace destination and
The Opening Doors concept – a comprehensive Web portal that hosts 3 unique web sites,
Skills Connect and CareerMATTERS for students and…
Hiring an Apprentice for employers

7. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN
Regional School Boards and the NOEL
Hire Education program (Grade 7 & 8)
Multi-Skills Trades Initiative – Integrated Trades Program
Aboriginal Alternative Education Program
Introduction of new guidance courses
Skills Canada-Ontario affiliation
Ontario Skills Passport
In addition to the new strategies being implemented by the Provincial Government, local school boards have developed unique programs of their own in cooperation with Northern Ontario Education Leaders fund (NOEL)
The Hire Education program (Grade 7 & 8) is a career exploration program, which includes exposure to the variety of skilled trades in Ontario including what it takes to become an apprentice…grading for these course units will be implemented on report cards next year
The Multi-Skills Trades Initiative – Integrated Trades Program, new grade 10 curriculum will be introduced in the fall of 2006, this locally developed course provides exposure to multiple trades. The course focuses on safety in the workplace.. a requirement of level 1 certification in most trades. It also includes components such as WHMIS, first aid, CPR and Occupational Health & Safety training.
The Aboriginal Alternative Education Program – this program designed to bring aboriginal youth back into the education system to achieve their OSSD
Also new in 2005 is the introduction of two new guidance courses:
Discovering the Workplace, Grade 10 - This course provides students with opportunities to discover and develop work habits required to be successfully employed.
Navigating the Workplace, Grade 12 - Students will explore occupations and careers of interest through participation in real workplace experiences..
In addition, most school boards in the region have also affiliated with Skills Canada-Ontario which runs skilled trades competitions on a province wide basis.
To address the 17% of students dropping out of high school some school boards have introduced the Ontario Skills Passport program in grade 9 focusing on students at-risk of leaving high school.

8. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
TODAY’S JOB MARKET
Reality of a career in the skilled trades
Skilled trades play an important role in NWO’s economy
Skilled trades provide rewarding, challenging, and well-paying jobs
Students and youth can “earn while they learn”
Job prospects are good, 44% of jobs available are in the skilled trades and technologies
Only 11% of today’s jobs require a university degree
In contrast to the existing perception of careers in the skilled trades are the following realities:
Skilled trades play an important role in NWO’s economy
Skilled trades provide rewarding, challenging, and well-paying jobs
Students and youth can “earn while they learn”
Job prospects are good,
44% of jobs available are in the skilled trades and technologies while only
11% of today’s jobs require a university degree

9. Ways [Business] Can Help Reduce Shortage of Labour
To address and solve the skilled trades deficit – business must also play an important role and not rely solely on educators to produce and improve student prospects in the work world.
According to CFIB, Survey on Labour Availability and Training there many Ways Business Can Help Reduce Shortage of Labour
66% of businesses indicated that more participation in cooperative education and youth apprenticeship programs will help reduce the labour shortage, and
55% implied that improved communication with education institutes is required to achieve these goals
Source: CFIB Survey on Labour 2002

10. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
EMPLOYER BENEFITS
Implementing an apprenticeship training program
Increase competitiveness
Improve productivity
Improve the quality of your services and finished products
Improve the skills of your workforce
Reduce turnover and increase employee loyalty
Plan for the future
Implementing an apprenticeship training program is an investment into your company’s future. The following are some of the key benefits of training apprentices:
Increased competitiveness: With an apprentice program, you get workers with on-the-job and in-school training, laying the foundation to improve your competitiveness now and in the future.
Improved productivity: the completion of an apprenticeship program results in highly trained professionals who contribute noticeably to your bottom line and ensures a higher level of quality production and productivity.
Improved quality of your services and finished products: With a thorough understanding of their occupation/trade., its tools and equipment, apprentices and journey persons properly maintain valuable equipment and use material appropriately, ensuring a quality product and longer life expectancy of both equipment and material.
Improved skills of your workforce: Participating in an apprenticeship program ensures that you will have employees that are not only trained to industry standards, but also understand the unique values of your workplace.
Reduced turnover and increased employee loyalty: Invest in your employees and they will invest in you. When you commit to training your workforce you see employee motivation and interest increase, improvements in overall work ethics and increased employee loyalty and finally,
Plan for the future: According to the Conference Board of Canada, in % of the workforce will be between the ages of 45 and 65. Implementing an apprenticeship program in your business will assist you to be better able to plan and meet your future workforce needs, ensuring that you have a pool of experienced employees of different ages within your company.
Source:

11. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
RECOMMENDED COLLECTIVE ACTIONS
“Taking Action on Skilled Trades” (OCC 09/05)
Launch a marketing and awareness campaign targeted at employers on the benefits of hiring an apprentice
Recognize the third component of post-secondary education in Ontario is apprenticeship (college/university)
Launch a marketing and awareness campaign targeted at students, parents and youth on the benefits of careers in the skilled trades
In September of 2005 OCC initiated a report called “Taking action on skilled trades” to establish a business case for investing in apprentices, as a result the collective recommended actions included that:
The Ontario government, business, labour and other stakeholders should collectively launch a province-wide marketing and awareness campaign targeted at employers on the benefits of hiring an apprentice and investing in apprenticeship training.
In all marketing materials, stakeholders including employers, parents, teachers and students must acknowledge and recognize that the third component of postsecondary education in Ontario is apprenticeship.
In all marketing materials, stakeholders should collectively launch marketing campaign targeted at students, parents and future apprentices on the benefits of careers in skilled trades.
Source:

12. Skilled Trades [Strategy]
RECOMMENDED COLLECTIVE ACTIONS
“Taking Action on Skilled Trades” (OCC 09/05)
Raise awareness about the importance of essential skills, integrating in training and education
Consider making “Test of Workplace Essential Skills” (TOWES) testing mandatory in Ontario workplaces
Stakeholders need to collaborate to create and maintain a web-portal for apprentices and employers
4. There is an opportunity for partnership among stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of essential skills, as well as possibly integrating this within apprenticeship training and education, both at the high school and college levels.
5. The government should also consider making Test Of Workplace Essential Skills mandatory in all Ontario workplaces
6. All stakeholders need to collaborate to create and maintain a comprehensive and user-friendly web portal for apprentices and employers as a source of current information on apprenticeship and skilled trades in Ontario
Source:

13.
Northwestern Ontario is in many ways already addressing these recommendations under the TOOLS [th]at WORK banner.
Working collectively with the regional school boards and business, the P2P regional committee has already launched their marketing and awareness campaign, unlike many of our counterparts in Southern Ontario. Today’s session is designed to establish communications between employers and educators so that together we can address the skilled trades shortage of the region. Local school boards have taken a leadership role by developing trade and job readiness curriculum to encourage student success.
Included in your package today is the WORK report newsletter, targeted at parents, educators and students. It was developed to increase awareness of apprenticeship as a post secondary career option and has been distributed recently to students in our grades 8 & 9 with a second edition to follow in the spring. This is just one marketing component developed to date, you have probably seen the “Trade Talk” articles that were submitted to local newspapers to raise awareness, many other initiatives are to follow including further development of our communication web site. Funding applications to government bodies have been submitted to create this site into an interactive web portal with a comprehensive tracking mechanism.

14. Seven Generations Education Institute
Project management by:
For more information call (807) ext 2426
or visit the web site
Addressing the trade deficit in the region is not exclusively the responsibility of educators…employers have a major role to play in producing an effective and skilled workforce for region. A disconnect between employers and educators exists in Northwestern Ontario, new working relationships need to be developed in cooperation.
The high school system provides the access to the regions future talent pool.. it is critical that business help guide education to spawn these workers. Following the panel presentations I will be asking you to complete the employer apprenticeship barrier survey, this will allow us to identify gaps between educators and employers so we can move forward on this initiative
In closing, I would like to thank you for participating today and I encourage you to listen to our guest panelist who have information on products, services and incentives for employers who choose to conduct apprenticeship training in their workplace. If you have a question please do not hesitate to ask them.
Now I would like to take this opportunity to introduce today’s panel members:
List for each community needed –
Seven Generations Education Institute