Apprenticeship Registrations and Certifications in Canada Show Growth in 2023

In 2023, apprenticeship programs across Canada, excluding Alberta, experienced an increase in new registrations and certifications. According to data, there were 70,521 new registrations, marking an 8.0% rise from 2022 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels observed in 2019. The number of Canadians receiving trade certificates also grew by 3.0% to 42,021, although this figure remains below the 2019 pre-pandemic level.

The certification rate, indicating the percentage of apprentices completing their programs within the expected duration, increased to 20.1% in 2023, up by 0.9 percentage points from the previous year. Despite this improvement, the rate is still slightly lower than the 2019 level of 21.8%.

Growth in new registrations was observed in nearly all provinces, with Quebec being the exception. The construction sector saw significant increases, with construction workers, sheet metal workers, and plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters experiencing some of the largest gains. However, new registrations in service-related trades such as hairstylists, food services, and early childhood educators remained below pre-pandemic levels.

Certifications in most major trade groups increased, with construction workers, hairstylists, food services, and refrigeration mechanics reporting the highest growth. Nonetheless, certifications in 15 of the 24 major trade groups have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.