A record number of Aboriginal apprentices are working in Alberta. There are now 1,126 Aboriginal apprentices in the province — an increase of 888 apprentices in less than four years.

Over the last few years, the government has worked to increase the number of Aboriginal people completing apprenticeship programs. Projects to help link employers with Aboriginal apprentices and provide support to help build successful working and learning relationships include:

Did you know?

There are now more than 47,000 apprentices in Alberta? That’s a 98 per cent increase since 1995.

• the Aboriginal Communication Strategy, which teaches youth about career opportunities in the trades. These opportunities are promoted through:
  
  
  • a colouring and activity book for Kindergarten to Grade 4,
  • playing cards for Grades 2 to 4,
  • a comic book for Grades 7 to 9,
  • a guide for junior and senior high students, and
  • two Aboriginal Youth Ambassadors who deliver presentations to junior and senior high students, parents, Aboriginal groups, career counsellors and other stakeholders across the province.
• the Alberta Aboriginal Apprenticeship Project (AAAP), a partnership between Aboriginal organizations, industry, and the federal and provincial governments. It is designed to increase the number of Aboriginal people in apprenticeship programs.

Alberta may be facing a labour shortfall of as many as 100,000 workers over the next 10 years. To help address this shortage, the government is working on a 10-year labour force development strategy, called Building and Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce.

• Related story: Proposed strategy addresses skill and labour shortages (January 31, 2006)

One of the short-term goals of this strategy is to increase the number of Aboriginal apprentices to 1,500 within the next three years. Within a decade, one in every five new workers will be Aboriginal.

More information

• Aboriginal apprentices by region and trade
• Alberta Aboriginal Apprenticeship Project
• Trade Secrets
• News release