New online apprentice job match tool hopes to bridge gap in trades industry

It’s the old cliche of ‘you can’t get a job without experience, without experience you can’t get a job.” One of the biggest hurdles for job-seeking apprentices is finding an employer willing to sponsor them for their practical training in the trades.

It comes down to a numbers game with more than 30,000 registered apprentices in B.C. and only 9,400 employer sponsors, there’s a definite need for connecting the two parties.

Employers are essential component of any apprenticeship as 80 per cent of an apprentice’s journey is spent in practical training under the guidance of an employer.

To help more apprentices secure on-the-job training, the Industry Training Authority (ITA) and WorkBC launched a new innovative online Apprentice Job Match tool today.

The event was well-timed as it fell on the inaugural Apprentice Appreciation Day in B.C.

The launch of the tool was held simultaneously in 10 locations across the province including: Burnaby, Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George, Surrey/Cloverdale, Terrace, and Victoria.

On-site at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) for the launch was Minister of Jobs Shirley Bond, who pointed out the importance of programs like these.

“These programs are critical but we have to start early and we have to change people’s thinking of the value and merit of apprentice and trades training,” Bond said.

“Today’s our first apprentice Appreciation day in B.C. and we want people to value the men and women who choose to be in the trades. It starts early. We need to have programs as early as K-12 to make sure kids are learning about these opportunities.”