CCDA 2015 Annual Review

Message from the Chair

Wow, what a difference a year makes! On behalf of my colleagues, I am pleased to present the 2015 Annual Review of the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA). It was an active and productive year, thanks to the efforts of many dedicated people. Their work has once again ensured the Program stands among the best in the world. I applaud those very able federal, provincial and territorial employees.

The net beneficiaries of the Program are the industry stakeholders across Canada who expect and demand top notch skilled trades programs. Not content to sit on the sidelines and watch, Canadian industry players have voluntarily stepped up to the plate and pitched in with their expertise and time to ensure a high level of quality in all of the Red Seal Program areas. On behalf of the CCDA, I thank Canadian industry for its involvement and commitment to the Red Seal Program.

Although Harmonization of Apprenticeship Training remains the top priority for the CCDA, it is not the only priority. The 2015 CCDA Annual Review highlights many aspects of the CCDA’s mandate and work is underway to advance additional priorities, including Standards and Assessments, Employer Engagement and Communications. These priorities will require our continued focus as we see them through to completion. Thankfully, those working on behalf of the Red Seal Program are up to the challenge.

Please take time to read the document. As the numbers demonstrate, the Red Seal Program is strong; it will continue to serve as the Canadian Standard of Excellence for the skilled trades. Industry’s involvement ensures that the Red Seal Program meets expectations on its deliverables, such as the Red Seal Occupational Standard and the Interprovincial Red Seal examinations. To review more detailed information on the CCDA’s initiatives, I encourage you to visit the Red Seal Program website at www.red-seal.ca.

Thank you all for another great year. I look forward to continued success through your efforts and collaboration in the future.

Jeff Ritter

Chair, Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship

Red Seal Statistics

Each year the Red Seal Secretariat collects Red Seal trade statistics from each of the provinces and territories. These statistics focus on the number of Red Seal endorsements issued, Red Seal examinations written, examination pass rates and the top Red Seal trades in the given reporting year. Listed below are the 2015 statistical highlights for the Red Seal Program and Red Seal trades.

Total Number of Red Seal Endorsements Issued by Province/Territory

*Nunavut began issuing Red Seal endorsements on its own certificates during the 2001 calendar year.

**Calendar year

NOTE: The first Red Seal endorsements were issued in 1959 to apprentices that successfully completed the interprovincial examination in the trade now known as Motor Vehicle Body Repairer (Metal and Paint).

Top 10 Red Seal Trades by Number of Red Seal Endorsements Issued in 2015

Top 10 Red Seal Trades with the Most Red Seal Endorsements Issued (Since Inception)

Red Seal Product Development

To ensure Red Seal products remain current and up-to-date, the CCDA works closely with industry to develop and revise Red Seal Standards and Red Seal examinations. The CCDA strives to be responsive to industry needs and ensure that its standards and examinations reflect today’s workplace requirements. As such, development workshops and industry reviews are held for many of the Red Seal trades every year.

In November 2015, the CCDA approved the introduction of the new Red Seal Occupational Standard (RSOS) that will replace the National Occupational Analyses (NOAs) and Interprovincial Program Guides (IPGs). The standard includes new elements such as learning objectives and outcomes, and industry-expected performance that will better support apprenticeship training and certification.

The standard will have the capacity to generate a suite of products targeted to different users, such as Log Books, On-the-job Training Guides and Trade Profiles. The roll-out of the RSOS began in the Fall of 2015 with three Red Seal trades. Additionally, to encourage greater harmonization of apprenticeship training across the country, the CCDA added a new curriculum workshop at the end of the RSOS workshop to allow for the development of a Curriculum Outline.

The RSOS, NOAs, IPGs and Red Seal examinations developed, reviewed and published during 2015 are listed on the following page.

Red Seal Occupational Standard (RSOS)

Three RSOS and Curriculum Development Workshops were held:

• Automotive Service Technician
• Industrial Electrician
• Plumber

Two RSOS were completed:

• Construction Electrician
• Steamfitter/Pipefitter

National Occupational Analyses (NOAs)

Four NOAs Development Workshops were held:

• Automotive Service Technician
• Bricklayer
• Cook
• Hairstylist

Two NOAs Industry Reviews were completed:

• Baker
• Oil Heat System Technician

Twelve NOAs were published:

• Baker
• Heavy Equipment Operator (Dozer)
• Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator)
• Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor-Loader-Backhoe)
• Ironworker (Generalist)
• Ironworker (Reinforcing)
• Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental)
• Landscape Horticulturist
• Oil Heat System Technician
• Partsperson
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Truck and Transport Mechanic

Interprovincial Program Guides (IPG)

One Double IPG Development Workshop was held:

• Gasfitter – Class A
• Gasfitter – Class B

One IPG Industry Review was initiated:

• Sprinkler System Installer

Two IPGs were published:

• Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
• Instrumentation and Control Technician

Examination Development

Twelve Item Bank Development Workshops were held:

• Baker
• Construction Electrician
• Heavy Equipment Operator (Dozer)
• Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator)
• Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor-Loader-Backhoe)
• Ironworker (Reinforcing)
• Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental)
• Landscape Horticulturist
• Partsperson
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Steamfitter/Pipefitter
• Tool and Die Maker

Nine Red Seal trades had new examinations released, totalling 30 new examinations:

• Boilermaker
• Drywall Finisher and Plasterer (introducing first Red Seal examinations for this newly designated trade)
• Instrumentation and Control Technician
• Machinist
• Mobile Crane Operator
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
• Steamfitter/Pipefitter
• Transport Trailer Technician
• Welder

Statistical Information

2013 Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS) Data Highlights

The Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS) is an annual survey conducted by Statistics Canada since 1974. The purpose of the survey is to gather information from provinces and territories on individuals who receive training or certification within a trade where apprenticeship training is being offered.

On October 26, 2015, Statistics Canada released the 2013 RAIS data through a series of Canadian Socio-economic Information Management System (CANSIM) tables. This release was accompanied by an article in The Daily highlighting the main findings of the data.

Key Changes from 2012 to 2013 (results vary considerably by province and territory) ¹

• In 2013, there were 95,058 new registrations in apprenticeship. New registrations in Red Seal trades represented 73% of all new registrations in 2013 compared to 70% in 2012.
• There were 46,998 completions recorded in 2013, of which 35,625 were in Red Seal trades representing 76% of all completions compared to 74% in 2012.
• The Red Seal trades with the largest number of continuing apprentices in 2013 were Construction Electrician (41,091), Carpenter (36,753) and Automotive Service Technician (19,809), unchanged from 2012.
  • The non-Red Seal trades with the largest numbers of continuing apprentices were Information Technology Support Associate (19,785) and Early Childhood Educator (5,952)

Statistical Profiles - Red Seal Trades

In 2013, Red Seal trades accounted for 77% of registered apprentices. There were 69,783 new registrations, 35,625 apprenticeship completions, and 270,216 continuing apprentices in Red Seal trades.

Almost 90% of all apprentices can be found in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia.

Figure 1—Overview of Registered Apprentices in Red Seal Trades 1993–2013

The number of women registering in Red Seal trades has increased from 2,493 in 1993 to 6,990 in 2013. Over the same time period, the number of continuing female apprentices has increased from 5,946 to 24,996.

The number of female apprenticeship completers has more than tripled from 912 in 1993 to 3,015 in 2013. The Red Seal trades with the highest proportion of women as new registrations continues to be hairstylist (89.8%), baker (64.5%), and cook (37%).

Figure 2—Participation of Women in Red Seal Trades 1993–2013

In 2013, the median age of new apprenticeship registrants in Red Seal trades was 24 for males and 23 for females. Males made up 90% (62,796) of all new registrations,

while females represented the remaining 10% (6,990). Almost three-quarters (71%) of all new apprenticeship registrants in Red Seal trades were under the age of 30.

Figure 3—Age and Gender of New Apprenticeship Registrants in Red Seal Trades in 2013

In terms of new registrations, the tables below show the number of new registrations for the top ten Red Seal trades in 2012 and in 2013.

New registration in these ten trades accounted for two-thirds (66%) of all new apprenticeship registrations in Red Seal trades in 2013.

Top 10 Red Seal Trade Registrations in 2011 and in 2012

Source: Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS), 2013

In terms of completions, the tables below show the number of apprenticeship completions for the top ten Red Seal trades in 2012 and 2013.

In 2013, 69% of apprenticeship completions in Red Seal trades were in these ten trades.

Top 10 Red Seal Trade Apprenticeship Completions in 2012 and in 2013

Source: Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS), 2013

Number of Registered Apprentices in Red Seal Trades in Canada in 2013

Fast Facts: Red Seal Program

• Established to develop occupational standards in the 1950s.
• 649,187 Red Seal endorsements issued since inception of examinations in 1959.
• 500,123 Red Seal endorsements issued to Apprentices since inception.
• 149,064 Red Seal endorsements issued to Trade Qualifiers since inception.
• 50% increase of Red Seals issued in the last 10 years (from 2006 to 2015).
• Over 240,000 Red Seals issued in the last 10 years.
• 57 designated Red Seal Trades².
• 77% of all registered apprentices in Canada were in Red Seal Trades
• 49,100 Red Seal examinations written in 2015.
• 29,649 Apprentices wrote Red Seal examinations in 2015 (77% pass rate).
• 10,455 Trade Qualifiers wrote Red Seal examinations in 2015 (59% pass rate).
• 29,088 Red Seal examinations completed successfully in 2015 (59% pass rate).
• 26,336 Red Seals issued in 2015.
• Top 5 Red Seal trades in 2015:
  • Construction Electrician
  • Automotive Service Technician
  • Welder
  • Plumber
  • Cook
• In 2015, the Red Seal Secretariat responded to over 1,500 e-mails and approximately 525 telephone messages through the Red Seal Info Line. The Red Seal Program’s website received approximately 463,000 visitors, resulting in over 2,800,000 page views.
• Nunavut joined the program in 1999 and Quebec joined it in 1971. All other jurisdictions have participated since 1952.

Members of the CCDA for 2015

Footnotes

1. In 2013, some jurisdictions implemented administrative and operational changes to their apprenticeship administrative data which impacted all data collected including the number of registered apprentices, discontinuations and certifications. Interpretation of the data should be made within the context of these administrative and operational changes. Statistics Canada’s 2013 RAIS release did not include any trend analysis.
2. In November 2015, the CCDA approved the merging of the Mobile Crane Operator and the Mobile Crane Operator (Hydraulic) trades into one single Red Seal trade. As a result, effective June 1, 2016, there will be 56 designated Red Seal trades.