It was stated lately that a job in trades is the place to be. That is absolutely correct, if you want your job to be in Alberta. Here in B.C., things are a little slower in the work front. I have worked in construction for 15 years, and these last couple of years is the slowest I’ve seen it. So far my shop has lost several apprentices to Alberta this year alone. Not only does Alberta pay more, with more guaranteed hours, but B.C. doesn’t have the work to keep them here.
It’s fine for someone in an office in Vancouver to forecast what it’s going to be like in seven years, but very rarely do these forecasts ever work out. Just ask any young teacher that was told 10 years ago that ‘all the aging teachers would retire and leave a huge gap.’
Shortly after the provincial Liberals were elected, they scrapped the entire apprenticeship board without any apparent good reason, and tried to implement an entirely new system that had numerous flaws. Today, they are still trying to play catch-up for that blunder.
Apprenticeship is a form of working schooling. If you don’t have enough hours, then you can’t go on to the next level of training.
In an environment of slow job creation, your choice is to leave the area or pick a new career. Best of luck, you’ll need it.
R. Symons, Vernon
