Calendar
TORONTO, ON (March 03, 2016) – According to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Ontario College of Trades (College), 95 per cent of Ontario parents are supportive of their children working in a trade-related profession – but they aren’t talking about it.
In fact, when ranked against other career paths, working in the skilled trades rated favourably among Ontario parents, placing it slightly ahead of both the financial and service industries. However, despite this approval, results show that only 38 per cent of parents have had serious discussions with their children about skilled trades and apprenticeship opportunities.
“With Canada facing an unprecedented skilled trades shortage, we need more parents to discuss the unlimited career possibilities in the skilled trades with their children,” says David Tsubouchi, the College’s Registrar and CEO. “Apprenticeship is a great way to earn money while learning new skills and working towards a rewarding and exciting career.”
To help parents and those interested in apprenticeship opportunities to learn more, the College has created a youth-focused website (earnwhileyoulearn.ca), featuring videos from working apprentices and tradespeople illustrating the many benefits of a career in the skilled trades.
Krista Nolan’s son Aidan who is in Grade 6, expressed an interest in a career in the skilled trades but she didn’t know where to go for information. “Finding out about earnwhileyoulearn.ca from a friend turned out to be a great way to start the conversation, ”she said.
“Knowing there will be jobs available for my son when he’s out of school and finished an apprenticeship means a lot to me as a parent,” she added.
The poll was conducted between December 11 and 15, 2015 by Ipsos Reid. It surveyed an online sample of 800 parents with children living in their household.
To learn more about the Ontario College of Trades or opportunities in the skilled trades, please visit collegeoftrades.ca or earnwhileyoulearn.ca. Follow us on Twitter@collegeoftrades.
