Avon Maitland District Schoolboard saw a record number of students register for apprenticeships last year, with 47 students choosing that work pathway.
Tony Roes, Cooperative Education Department Head of Stratford District Secondary School described the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (or OYAP) as a “win-win for both employers and students,” hoping that co-op placements could help address labor shortages.
Not only did apprenticeship numbers increase, but the number of young women who registered as apprentices also increased – with eleven young women choosing to enter skilled trades upon graduation.
The government of Ontario has recently stated that by 2026, 1 in 5 jobs will be in the skilled trades.
