Measuring Apprentice Effectiveness in an Industrial Construction Setting

The industrial construction sector in Alberta is facing a period of rapid growth and, consequently, shortages of skilled workers in many trades. A low rate of apprentice utilization in the industrial sector, combined with an aging construction workforce, makes labour force training and renewal a significant issue. In an effort to address this issue, the Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA) has established a goal of developing an industry Best Practice on how to improve the on-the-job portion of apprenticeship training. This paper presents an overview of the research methodology and key findings of a pilot study that was conducted to help identify the most effective level of apprentice utilization in an industrial context. The COAA's recommendations based on this study for an industry Best Practice on the effective utilization of apprentices are presented.