Report on Partnership #1:
Promoting Youth Employment through Apprenticeship

Toronto Training Board | Current Activities

December 20, 2004

INTRODUCTION

The Toronto Training Board partnered with the Youth Employment Partnership (YEP) of the City of Toronto in developing and delivering this partnership. The basis of the partnership was to hear from frontline workers in youth-serving agencies to try to determine some of the reasons for the low numbers of apprenticeship referrals in the Job Connect system in Toronto. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Union was also involved in delivering the workshop. This partnership complements partnerships 5 and Partnership 6, which also address other aspects of Apprenticeship.

RATIONALE FOR PARTNERSHIP

• There is a low Job Connect referral rate to Apprenticeship in Toronto.
• There is a lack of information regarding the Apprenticeship system.
• Resources for frontline workers in Job Connect and other employment services agencies are hard to find.

OBJECTIVES OF PARTNERSHIP

• To determine the information needs of Job Connect counsellors, job developers, outreach and other workers regarding the Apprenticeship system; and
• To determine the need for a tool to support Job Connect counsellors, outreach workers and job developers in recruiting young people for Apprenticeships.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Toronto Training Board (Lead)
• Conducted a literature review to find resources on Apprenticeship with a focus on Toronto.
• Determined the appropriate audience for this workshop.
• Sent invitations out to Job Connect agencies.
• Organised and hosted the focus group.
• Wrote Report
• Distributed Report to Job Connect agencies to inform their training of frontline staff.
• Provided Report to OAYEC, COSTI, and CAF to inform their work on creating online resource tools in Apprenticeship.
• Youth Employment Partnership (YEP) – City of Toronto
• Co-facilitated the focus group
• Assisted in distributing invitations to members of the YEP group.
• Advertised the event through their networks
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• Provided a guest speaker at the meeting.
• Helped to focus the discussion guide by providing information about the trades and the apprenticeship system.
• Job Connect Agencies
• Sent representatives to the meeting.
• Provided feedback. Some representatives had also attended the Consultation on Apprenticeship.
• Asked for additional sessions on the topic.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• 12 - 20 people to attend the focus group meeting.
• Information collected to determine the need for a Resource tool – Brochure/CD-ROM/online - for Job Connect Counsellors, Outreach Workers, Job Developers and others in Toronto involved in similar work.

ACTUAL OUTCOMES

• Achieved expected outcomes above.
• Participation was excellent. Twenty-nine (29) people registered and nineteen (19) attended despite a storm and delays in public transportation.
• Participants were from different organisations. (See Appendix 2 for List of Attendees)
• The meeting was not just an information collection event but turned out to be an educational event for the participants who were very pleased with the event and their learning. (See Appendix 1 for Findings of the Meeting)
• The meeting informed Partnership 6 which dealt with Apprenticeship and Employers.

SUCCESS AT ACHIEVING OBJECTIVES

• Successfully achieved objective of getting feedback from frontline workers and producing a Report.
• In addition provided information to the participants to help them in their work.

FEEDBACK ON EVENT FROM PARTICIPANTS

Participants were given an evaluation sheet that they filled out at the end of the session. All of the 19 service provider representatives attending filled out the form. Below are the results:

Usefulness of the discussion

Everyone found the discussion useful. The evaluation noted that participants had an opportunity to:

• Share information and knowledge;
• Discuss the frustrations and barriers faced by service providers;
• Gain a better understanding of youth apprenticeship and other issues;
• Learn about new resources to help them in their work;
• Problem solve and put forward solutions,
• Hear the union perspective on apprenticeships.

Suggestions for a better experience.

• Provide more information on pre-apprenticeship issues;
• Provide more information on unions and contacts;
• Provide more information on wages in the trades;
• Have a representative from the MTCU Apprenticeship Branch
• Have more unions present;
• Provide more time for discussion and to share success of agencies in making placements with employers;
• Create smaller discussion groups.
• From the responses to this question, it is clear that workers want to have more training and information.

Value of networking opportunities

Seventeen of the nineteen people found the networking opportunities valuable.

Interest in future activities of the TTB

All of the participants wanted to be advised of future activities of the TTB. Some of the participants had also attended the Consultation on Apprenticeship and the Annual General Meeting. They indicated that they found all the sessions valuable.

General Comments/Suggestions taken from the evaluation forms.

• "Youth need more pre-apprenticeship/bridging programs;
• Barry Stevens, the representative of the IBEW had a great personality and was a knowledgeable spokesperson for organized labour.
• I hope the recommendations will be implemented.
• Thank you for useful information. The speaker from IBEW was awesome.
• The next step could on coordinating the work of employment counsellors and job developers.
• Hold ongoing discussions to address the issues related to apprenticeships.
• A great use of precious time. I do hope change will come."

NEXT STEPS:

The TTB will provide a Report to the sponsors to inform review and initiatives with regards to improving Job Connect;

The TTB will provide a Report to senior Staff at Job Connect agencies to inform training and support for frontline workers.

Rather than creating a "stand-alone tool" The TTB will send the Report to CAF and OAYEC to inform the creation of a one-stop online resource on Apprenticeship in Ontario. This would inform a "Section" on the site with Resources for frontline workers in Job Connect and other agencies providing employment counselling.

CONCLUSION

The reasons for the low apprenticeship referral are very complex. The frontline workers in the Job Connect system are aware of most of the reasons. The partnership’s focus was to address the needs of the frontline workers themselves in their role as job developers or counsellors of Youth. The participants at the meeting told us that there is not enough training and information provided to the people working in the Job Connect system. It is hoped that this situation can be remedied through the implementation of some of these recommendations. The TTB, YEP and MTCU all have a role to play.

 

APPENDIX 1: FINDINGS OF THE MEETING

Through the focus group meeting, TTB obtained feedback from Job Connect staff in Toronto about their difficulties in placing youth in apprenticeships. Participants spoke on various aspects of the Job Connect system, including the systemic and environmental issues that affect the quality of their work.

Section 1: Systemic/Environmental Issues

Employers

• Government should target employers as well as youth. Employers need to know about the benefits of apprenticeship hiring.
• Smaller Employers lack resources and personnel (journey persons) to
• train apprentices. There is a lack of skilled workers with time available to train/supervise apprentices.
• Small employers hire unlicensed people to keep costs down. If supervisors are not licensed, they cannot sign the apprenticeship papers.
• Employers are not always ready to sign up people and youth do not want to wait.
• Employers often recruit people directly from the colleges.
• Employers are not always willing to pay apprentice wages and then youth report that wages are too low
• There is a gap in expectations between employers and youth regarding education requirements and wages.
• It is difficult to find employers who will hire new apprentices, even with a subsidy.
• It is difficult to get employers to take on youth.
• Non-unionized workplaces have shortages because of poaching by higher paying, larger companies.
• Some non-unionized companies have no money and/or certified journeymen to train apprentices.
• Some unionized companies do not have shortages.

Clients

• Youth do not always want to do manual or "grunt labour". Their expectations are different from those of previous generations. They do not have a realistic understanding of apprenticeship.
• Long-term commitment to training of 3-4 years may be difficult for some of the youth served by the agencies. Many youth are "at-risk", operating at a basic level of survival and can’t afford the time investment in apprenticeship.
• The work environment is not always comfortable/friendly or supportive to youth. Some youth don’t have the resilience to adapt to the work environment. They need communication and basic life skills.
• Co-op students are more successful in apprenticeship.

Job Connect regulations

Government should provide clear requirements so that clients who do not meet these requirements are not placed in unsuitable situations.

Insurance costs may be a barrier for placing youth. Job Connect requires employers to have insurance. Many sub-contractors are used in Construction who may not have insurance.

Tax breaks/scholarships/signing bonus are considered positive changes but the many requirements and amount of paperwork continue to act as a disincentive to clients and employers.

Funding:

• The stipend of $4,000 per apprentice is not enough of an incentive. Because of the cost of training and poaching, higher financial incentives are needed. More money could be phased in over several years for training.
• The money provided for purchase of tools is insufficient - $200, and $400 if the apprentice becomes registered. The system works backwards. Youth need the money for tools before they become an apprentice not afterwards.
• Job Connect agencies ought to be able to provide course tuition.
• Targets for placement
  • Geography affects placement rates and ought to be considered in determining targets for agencies to meet.
  • Targets for job connect agencies only capture NOC 7 and most placements in Toronto are NOC 6. If a client is registered as an apprentice for a NOC 6, only then is he/she counted towards the target number. The NOC 7 priority is very difficult to meet in the city. Construction jobs have migrated to the suburbs of the City. Toronto has different types of jobs. This may be the reason for the ‘so-called’ low uptake.
  • Every agency has different targets. Overall, the targets need to be reviewed.

Unions

• The ‘seniority’ principle on which unions operate may be a barrier for recruiting youth.
• There is too much competition. There are long waiting lists to get into union training. Job Connect agencies have not had much success with finding placements with unionized companies.
• Youth are perceived as having a lack of experience.
• Some unions charge for their training and Job Connect clients may not have money to pay.
• Union requirements for entry into a trade may be different from the minimum requirements and are not widely known.

Other Systemic/societal issues affecting Youth in Apprenticeships:

• People are delaying retirement and this is impacting the entry of Youth.
• There is a need for more pre-apprenticeship programs with assessment to ensure a good match and to bring the youth up to a certain level. Pre-apprenticeship programs ought to have a life skills component.
• Clear information on the requirements for a trade should be compiled and made available.
• Enforcing Apprenticeship regulations would reduce the use of illegal labour and unregistered apprentices.
• Parents need to have more information.
• The education system must allow movement between streams.
• There ought to be articulation agreements between trades training and other post-secondary institutions.
• High schools should offer more practical courses such as applied math in order to prepare youth for careers in the trades.
• There is an information gap between the opportunities for entry-level apprentices and the advertising.

Section 2: Support for frontline workers – Training/Information resources

• There is a lack of training opportunities on Apprenticeship for Job Connect agency staff.
• Staff needs more information on union training and requirements, pay scales for the trades, etc.
• There is no consistency. Everyone has different information even within the same organization. Some agencies have more resources than others. Each centre has its own problems, different staffing models – generalist vs. specialist.
• Information is scattered and it is time consuming to look for the appropriate information. Staff does not need to know every Trade. They need to know where to get information when assessing a client’s career goals.
• There is a great deal of staff turnover in agencies with job developers so it is difficult to build expertise/capacity in-house.
• Job developers and counsellors need to be "in sync" about labour market changes and what employers want.
• Job Connect staff need training on apprenticeship.
• Job developers don’t have enough information about apprenticeship. They need information on the process starting at the high school level.
• Workers need better information on employer expectations regarding education requirements and wages.

Section 3: Recommendations to help frontline workers

• Government ought to create a central location of information online of specific information:
  • For employers and unions to advertise positions;
  • For agency staff to find information and resources.
  • A Youth-friendly section for Youth.
• Provide Job Developers with better assessment tools for apprenticeship.
• Hold information sessions with job developers and MTCU consultants.
• Have MTCU consultants that work exclusively with employment agencies.
• Organize regular training for Job Developers and other front line workers. A graduated series of workshops on apprenticeship for frontline workers would be useful.
• Provide marketing materials to all the Job Connect agencies about the Apprenticeship Scholarship and Signing Bonus.
• Simplify the criteria for getting Apprenticeship scholarship signing bonus. There is too much red tape for the employer and the apprentice.
• Provide charts mapping the education and skills required, wages and career path for each trade for service providers and clients to use.
• Provide more truthful information in advertising about opportunities in the Trades.
• Publicize wages for apprentice/journey persons for each trade.
• Provide Toronto-specific information, as the City’s labour market is very different from other parts of Ontario.
• Unions to provide clearer information on how to advance in a trade - career laddering.
• Promote apprenticeship as a good career.
• Hold Youth Trade Job Fairs.
• Recommend having a job developer who specializes in apprenticeship in agencies.

General recommendations

• The Bill for Tax incentives should be passed to provide financial incentives to employers.
• Have alternatives for upgrading such as alternative schools and alternative curriculum/night school, job shadowing.
• Oblige Government (City, Province) contractors to hire apprentices.

Resources recommended

• TASC – The Alliance for Sector Councils, http://www.councils.org/
• TVO – Video series on Apprenticeship – Career Matters, See http://www.ilc.org/cfmx/CM/Apprenticeship/index.cfm?Menu_ID_Sel=5999&Lang_Sel=1
• OAYEC website, http://www.oayec.org/
• Canadian Apprenticeship Forum – www.caf-fca.org
• Union retiree groups can be used for mentoring youth. See the website for Canadian Labour Congress retirees, www.clc-ctc.ca, http://curc.clc-ctc.ca/

 

APPENDIX 2 – LIST OF ATTENDEES AT FOCUS GROUP

#	Organization	Name
1	Evergreen Employment Resource Centre	Linda Gatensby-Sparas
2	Evergreen Employment Resource Centre	Judith Duguid
3	Jobstart	Jenna Northover
4	OAYEC	Sheri Coombs
5	OAYEC	Roland Honsch
6	Pape Adolescent Youth Centre	Alex Benn
7	Ralph Thornton Centre / RCDI	Louise Joseph
8	Seneca College	Tanya White
9	Toronto Youth Job Corps/St. Christopher House	Fiona Lui
10	Woodgreen Youth Job Centre	Kirsten Keil-Mehlenbacher
11	Woodgreen Youth Job Centre	Karon Cross
12	Woodgreen Youth Job Centre	Aline Chan
13	Woodgreen Youth Job Centre	Leo MacInnis
14	YMCA Employment & Newcomer Services	Matan Zelver
15	YMCA Employment and Community Services	Ian Nyman
16	YMCA Employment and Community Services	Luca Sirianni
17	YMCA Employment Centre	Farrah Manji
18	Youth Employment Service	Rose Rocca
19	Youth Employment Service	Shoshana Fainsilber
20	International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers	Barry Stevens (Guest Speaker)
21	Youth Employment Partnership (City of Toronto)	Linda McGrath (Co-facilitator)

 

 

APPENDIX 3 – DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR THE FOCUS GROUP ON THE

"Information needs of frontline workers on the Apprenticeship System"

December 14, 2004

Discussion Guide

Audience: frontline workers in the Job Connect system working with apprenticeable youth including counsellors, job developers, outreach workers, etc.

Objective: To determine information gap of frontline workers and recommend strategies. To determine the need for a separate resource tool to help improve the success rate with youth who may want to enter apprenticeships.

Questions:

• What type of training/information have you received in the area of apprenticeships to assist your work with youth?
• Do you feel you know enough about the Apprenticeship system to advise young people about opportunities for employment?
• Regulations for the occupations?
• The entry-level skills required by employers for specific occupations?
• The role of some trade unions in apprenticeships.
• Do you understand the process for accessing apprenticeships for various occupations?
• Do you know employers are that are hiring?
• Are you aware of any agencies that can assist you in your work?
• Do you know what information resources are available online and in hard copy?
• What will be most helpful to you in working with youth to encourage them into apprenticeships?