Employer Apprenticeship Barrier Survey

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Employer Apprenticeship Barrier Survey
Seven Generations Education Institute
www.toolsthatwork.ca
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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?

• How did you find out about apprenticeship?
• 33.0 self-discovery
• 16.0 Ministry representative
• 14.0 todays employer apprenticeship forum
• 13.2 marketing materials (radio and newspaper
  ads or invitations)
• 8.4 Cooperative Education department
• 8.4 media/trade magazines
• 7.0 other

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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?
2. Which of the following factors have prevented
you from hiring OYAP apprentices? 18.0 unaware
of benefits and incentives to encourage
apprentice recruitment 13.0 lack of steady work
for the apprentice for the period of
training 13.0 lack of preparation of youth
applying for apprenticeships 13.0 other 10.0
cost of apprenticeship training vs poaching a
certified worker 9.0 concerns over regulations
intruding on the workplace (WSIB/insurance)
9.0 lack of info on the process to register an
apprentice, requirements 7.5 lack of follow-up
from Ministry consultant or school board
coordinators 4.5 difficulty following rules
and regulations (government Red Tape) 3.0 fees
and equipment costs associated with taking on an
apprentice
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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?
3. What kinds of individuals are you looking for
to become an apprentice? 35.5 youth with
enthusiasm and interest in a specified
trade 26.2 students with a high level of
employability skills 19.1 students/youth who
learn visually, hands-on learners 14.2
individuals with years of experience in a skilled
trade 5.0 other
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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?
4. How do you select apprenticeship
candidates? 44.0 traditional interview process
(ad in newspaper, submission of resume) 35.0
trial placement, candidates opportunity to
demonstrate learning capabilities 13.0
persistence to be employed at your place of work
8.0 other
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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?
5.What background/level of education/experience
are you looking for in a new hire? 43.1 high
school diploma 36.5 exposure to skilled trades
in general, tool and equipment of the trade 10.6
post-secondary accreditation 9.6 less than
high school, but keen interest 2.0 other
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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?
6. How often do you have inquiries from students
or youth who want to become apprentices? 38.0
annually 35.0 never 16.0 bi-annually 11.0
every three months
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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?
7.Are you having difficulties finding
apprentices? 44.0 NO 56.0 YES, if so
why? 28.0 few motivated and appropriate
candidates 22.0 negative image of the skilled
trades among peers, parents, educators 19.0
elimination of trades training programs from
secondary schools and colleges, preventing
discovery of interests and aptitudes 17.0 lack
of information available about apprenticeship
opportunities in the skilled trades 14.0 other
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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?

• 8. Do you anticipate needing new apprentices in
  the next five years?
• 7.0 NO 93.0 YES How many? 174
• Motive Power Sector
• Heavy duty equipment technician
• Automotive service technician
• Truck and coach technician
• Small engine technician

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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?

• 8. Do you anticipate needing new apprentices in
  the next five years?
• Service Sector
• Aboriginal early childhood education worker
• Early childhood educator
• Child and youth worker
• Appliance service technician
• Information technology (network)
• Network cabling specialist
• Hairstylist

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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?

• 8. Do you anticipate needing new apprentices in
  the next five years?
• Industrial Sector
• Aircraft maintenance engineer
• General machinist
• Industrial electrician
• Industrial mechanic millwright
• Precision metal fabricator
• Saw filer/fitter
• Welder

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SECTION A What barriers prevent you as an
employer from registering
OYAP apprentices?

• 8. Do you anticipate needing new apprentices in
  the next five years?
• Construction Sector
• General carpenter
• Native residential construction
  worker/Construction craft worker
• Electrician construction/maintenance
• Floor covering installer
• Heavy equipment operator (logging truck drivers)
• Line worker (construction/power)
• Plumber and steam fitter

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SECTION B As an employer, what barriers prevent
individuals from completing apprenticeships?
1. Were you part of an apprenticeship program in
college? 59.0 NO 41.0 YES 2. Did you have
exposure to skilled trades during your high
school term? 50.0 NO 50.0 YES
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SECTION B As an employer, what barriers prevent
individuals from completing apprenticeships?
3. What barriers prevent individuals from
completing apprenticeships? 20.0 keeping
apprentices employed through economic ups and
downs 19.0 the cost of tools, no existing tax
credit only loans 18.0 the lure of better pay
in a different job 12.0 disappointment with the
reality of an apprenticeship 12.0 financial
challenges while waiting for EI (two week
delay) 7.0 test anxiety, final Ministry exam
too difficult 7.0 limited access to all
aspects of the trade 4.0 other 1.0
penalties for completing training
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SECTION B As an employer, what barriers prevent
individuals from completing apprenticeships?
4. Do you ever fire apprentices? 74.0 NO 26.0
YES, if so why? 28.0 lack of essential
employability skills, poor business ethics 25.0
no aptitude or dedication, personal
problems 22.0 inability to connect with the
public, no customer service training/poor
attitude 14.0 lack of basic business skills
(math/numeracy, writing, reading,
communications) 11.0 other
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SECTION B As an employer, what barriers prevent
individuals from completing apprenticeships?
5. What causes apprentices to leave your
workplace? 31.0 introductory job assignments
perceived as menial, minimal responsibility, low
starting wages 17.0 other 14.0 no
appreciation for apprenticeship process and time
required to achieve 12.0 no loyalty or
commitment to the employer, no seniority, job
benefits 10.0 inability to keep apprentices
busy 7.0 not able to participate in a group
work environment, maturity issues 7.0 unable
to accept, effective and constructive
communication 2.0 inability to find an
opening union collective agreements
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SECTION C What changes/supports/aids would help
you as an employer to overcome these barriers?
1. What would assist you to recruit/select the
right apprentice? 24.0 a single source/access
point for recruitment (student-based job
bank) 23.0 prescreening by Coop department,
student profile of aptitudes knowledge and
interests, barriers if any 19.0 increased Coop
placements for students interested in
trades 12.0 access to no-fee human resource
training and recruitment practices 12.0 better
knowledge of the apprenticeship process, employer
responsibilities 6.0 increased human resource
planning in a skilled trades workplace 4.0
other
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SECTION C What changes/supports/aids would help
you as an employer to overcome these barriers?
2. What would assist you to retain
apprentices? 27.2 provision of employer-based
incentives 22.0 investment in equipment, tools
and training for high school students 19.0
participation in Coop and OYAP programs as career
exploration with no commitment required 18.4
development of a how to/steps to train an
apprenticeship resource manual 11.4 increased
communications between employers, unions and
educators 2.0 other
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SECTION C What changes/supports/aids would help
you as an employer to overcome these barriers?
3. What are the most important essential
employability skills apprentices need? 24.5 job
readiness training 20.3 communication
skills 15.1 numeracy/business math
skills 13.0 basic business ethics 12.0
customer service training 12.0 expanded
literacy skills 3.1 other WHMIS, HS, CPR
1st Aid, computer skills, wanting willing to
work
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SECTION C What changes/supports/aids would help
you as an employer to overcome these barriers?
4. What changes would make it a more successful
training program for you as an employer? 29.0
more knowledge about the benefits of
apprenticeship 21.0 prepared training plans for
Coop and OYAP students 19.0 fewer monitoring
forms to complete 15.0 prepared job description
with list of tasks to be undertaken, eliminates
student misunderstanding 14.0 increased visits
from the Ministry training consultant 2.0
other
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SECTION C What changes/supports/aids would help
you as an employer to overcome these barriers?
5. What changes in the education system would
make it easier to take on interested
students? 21.0 preliminary training completed
prior to placement 20.0 exposure to skilled
trades in secondary school 18.0 improved
secondary school training (essential
skills) 16.0 longer or full day work placement
opportunities 14.0 general understanding of
safe work practices 7.0 career exploration in
elementary schools 3.0 other
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SECTION C What changes/supports/aids would help
you as an employer to overcome these barriers?
6. What recommended government action would
encourage you provide apprenticeship
opportunities? 18.0 other types of
financial/tax rebates/incentives for
employers 15.0 other types of financial/tax
rebates/incentives for apprentices 14.0
introducing a specific tax credit for the
purchase of tools/ equipment 13.0 elimination
of the 2-week EI waiting period for
apprentices 10.0 more service trades able to
access the Apprenticeship Training Tax
Credit Contd
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SECTION C What changes/supports/aids would help
you as an employer to overcome these barriers?
6. What recommended government action would
encourage you provide apprenticeship
opportunities? 9.0 mandatory essential,
skills training in all skilled trades available
in Ontario (TOWES) 8.0 updating of in-school
curricula/standards to meet current trends
6.0 changes to the journey person to
apprenticeship ratios 5.0 adoption of Red
Seal as mandatory designation in Ontario
trades 2.0 other
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SECTION D What would you be prepared to do to
implement changes to help address these
barriers?
1. Is your company willing to register as an
employer with the local school board? 35.0 NO
65.0 YES New/or interested P2P
registrations 25 employers 2. Do you want
follow-up information on the incentives presented
here today? 45.0 NO 55.0 YES General
comments.
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SECTION D What would you be prepared to do to
implement changes to help address these
barriers?
General comments -We have 3 young guys working
with us right now that would probably qualify for
some sort of apprenticeship. -I have in the past
contacted the high school automotive instructor
looking for possible apprentices to hire and was
almost blown off by him and never received a name
or a call from anyone. It was quite
disappointing and made me wonder what the purpose
of the high school course was other than self
improvement. -Would like to see an
apprenticeship for surface mining, heavy
equipment operation - Construction is hard work,
and most youth have no experience with hard work.
Also, next time you need to bring in some trades
men to tell you why their kids wont follow in
their footsteps.
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SECTION D What would you be prepared to do to
implement changes to help address these
barriers?

• General comments
• -Grants needed for apprentices for surface mining
• -As a childrens aid society we employ social
  workers (generally requires a bachelor of social
  work degree) and child care workers (generally
  requires a college diploma), unsure as to how an
  apprenticeship / skill trades program could
  benefit us as an employer.
• -Would like more for travel funds as nearest
  school is Sault Ste. Marie
• -Will contact community organizations
• -The mining sector offers a multitude of training
  and it may be wise to include the mining sector
  in your advertising.