EDMONTON- It was an important day for those looking to get into the trades in our province.
“I get to move forward in my career,” said Jessy Rolls, a NAIT plumbing apprentice.
NAIT’s registration day was held Wednesday, and hundreds of people lined up in hopes of getting their first choice of class placements.
“It’s pretty important just because of the raises and whatnot. And just furthering yourself in your employment,” explained Kyle Ebertz, another NAIT plumbing apprentice.
As the largest provider of trades programs in the province, NAIT expects to register about 2,000 apprentices on Wednesday alone.
“They’re anxious about their education, so they want to get in and make sure they get their spot,” explained Anna Foshay, registrar at NAIT.
And those spots are hot right now.
“You could apply for one in September and not get in until December,” said Ebertz. “If you just get the second choice, it’s not too bad. But if you just don’t get any choices and you have to wait until the next year, then pretty much everything’s at stake.”
“Having a trade ticket in Alberta means a ticket to opportunity,” added MLA Naresh Bhardwaj, who is also a journeyman mechanic.
The government consults with industry to determine how many apprentices are needed in the province, and program numbers are based off that information. While the number of apprentic ESHIP spaces at NAIT decreased over the past few years with the recession, the need for skilled workers is growing and those numbers are once again on the way up.
School officials say that increase is a great sign Alberta’s economy is once again on its way up.
“We’re hearing more and more about the economy and the need for these types of workers in the workforce, so people want to get into AIT (Apprenticeship and Industry Training),” said Foshay.
For students enrolling Wednesday, it’s also a positive sign for their futures.
“It’s good to see actual buildings being put up. It means the economy is on the rise,” said Rolls. “There’s a fair bit of work, definitely, out there.”
“It’s actually extremely busy right now,” said Ebertz. “Overtime is not a problem.”
Nineteen per cent of Canada’s tradespeople are trained in our province. There are currently more than 60,000 apprentices in Alberta.
With files from Fletcher Kent, Global News.
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