ln 2014, approximately 4.6 million Canadians worked in skilled trades that were designated for apprenticeship training, representing about one in four employed Canadians and about 17% of employed Canadian women. For the past few decades, women participating in apprenticeship systems have remained largely within the hairstyling and food services trades.
ln 2012, female apprentices accounted for about 14% of all registered apprentices. This is up 40% from 2008, when there were fewer than 45,000 women apprentices. While the absolute number of women remains small, there are some encouraging signs of growth in some in-demand, rewarding, and non-traditional career choices for women.
Key among federal supports for apprentices are the apprenticeship grants, which encourage Canadians to pursue and complete apprenticeship training in Red Seal trades. Through these cash grants, apprentices receive up to $4,000, which can be used to pay for tuition, tools or other training-related expenses.
Federal ad campaigns over the past few years have targeted women through the use of real-life testimonials of women who work in the trades and benefit from the apprenticeship grants.
Launched in January, the Canada apprentice loan allows apprentices registered in the Red Seal trades to apply for interest-free loans of up to $4,000 per period of block release technical training.
The flexibility and innovation in apprenticeship technical training pilot project that was launched in budget 2014 will allow us to expand innovative approaches to apprenticeship training and support projects that will demonstrate improved accessibility to technical training for under-represented groups, including women.
Finally, the youth employment strategy, YES, is designed to help young Canadians gain the skills and experience needed to get into the workforce. In budget 2014, it was announced that the government will improve the YES to provide young Canadians with real-life work experience in high-demand fields, including the skilled trades.
We will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.