IM-zhang_2023_0301.pub

And adding to the challenge, the digital shift will require new skills from the existing workforce – one quarter of Canada’s four million tradespeople will need to retrain on evolving technologies in the next five years, according to one recent study. [...] Overall, Canada will face a shortage of more than 60,000 registered apprentices in 2025, according to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, which also estimates the country needs to recruit 256,000 apprentices in the next five years to meet the certification demand across Red Seal Trades in Canada. [...] This understanding of skilled trades often comes from teachers and parents, who have outdated stereotyped views of the jobs and influenced youths’ career choices in skilled trades. [...] Closing the gap between the supply and demand for skilled tradespeople needs to address these biases towards trades and recruit from underrepresented groups. [...] Provincial governments need to work with employers and post-secondary institutions to promote skilled trades to students at schools and increase apprenticeship registration in high-demand trades such as welder.