According to a Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) study, hiring an apprentice improves companies’ bottom line. A study on skilled trades conducted in 2006 reached the same conclusion, with the difference that this year’s study was Canada-wide, and more than 1,000 employers were consulted about 16 different trades. Of course, training is an investment, but employers ultimately receive a payoff of $1.47 for each dollar spent on training, or 9 cents more than the 2006 study.
The CAF hopes that these positive results will encourage sceptical employers to invest in apprenticeship. Among the benefits quoted by employers were the reduced risk of skill shortages, greater productivity, better relations with customers, fewer mistakes and finally, better health and safety performance.
In the current economic slump, apprenticeship could even be a good way to increase business productivity. The CAF is setting up activities to encourage youth, parents, and educators to look into the skilled trades. Construction and manufacturing are two sectors that use apprenticeship extensively.