Skilled Trades Certification program will ensure fully trained, highly skilled, and resilient workers, ready for the new economy

June 11, 2021 | News Release

(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC) The BC government has announced a Skilled Trades Certification program that will provide access to apprenticeships and formal recognition of the skills and knowledge for workers within ten initial trades. The system includes a consultation process to support the transition and identify additional trades for future certification.

“Fully trained and certified tradespeople will be able to adapt to cutting-edge and emerging technologies and thrive in an ever-changing new economy,” said Laird Cronk, President of the BC Federation of Labour. “A highly-skilled and resilient workforce will set BC workers and employers up for a successful economic recovery. Choosing work in these trades will mean having more than a job; they’ll be family-supporting, community-building careers.”

As vaccination rates increase and the need for an equitable economic recovery comes into focus, this program puts BC back on the national map as a trades-training powerhouse.

“Ensuring workers have access to full training and certification means BC will avoid trades shortages, future-proofing our economy while lifting up workers with high-quality, lifetime careers,” added Cronk.

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Media contact:
Jonathan Sas, Communications Director
604-861-4321 | media@bcfed.ca