Section 3
Challenges, support and difficulties experienced by apprentices

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Difficulties related to finding employers for first apprenticeship programs
Challenges or obstacles encountered during the apprenticeship program
Help received other than training allowances and employment insurance
Change in employers during the apprenticeship program
Main reasons discontinuers did not complete their apprenticeship programs

Apprenticeship program completion or discontinuation can be influenced by a variety of factors throughout the stages of the apprenticeship program. This section explores the perspectives of apprentices in Quebec concerning the barriers, challenges, and support received in order to access, maintain, and complete their apprenticeship programs.

Difficulties related to finding employers for first apprenticeship programs

The majority of all three groups of apprentices (84% to 88%) did not encounter difficulties finding an employer for their first apprenticeship programs. Difficulties in finding an employer did not appear to be related to program discontinuation, since 16% of completers reported these difficulties compared with only 13% of long-term continuers and 12% of discontinuers (see Appendix 1 Table A.1.3.1.1).

Appendix 1 Table A.1.3.1.2 shows the specific challenges encountered by apprentices who had difficulty finding an employer for their first apprenticeship program. The most common reason for difficulties was a lack of work in the trade at the time. This reason did not appear to impeded program success since it was cited by 35% of completers and long-term continuers compared with only 29% of discontinuers.

The second most common reason was a lack of employers hiring. Again, this reason did not appear to be much of an impediment to program success since it was cited by 25% of completers and 23% of long-term continuers, close to the 26% rate of discontinuers.

Lack of work experience or knowledge was the next most common reason reported. This reason also did not appear to impact program success since it was reported by 16% of completers compared with 14% of discontinuers and 13% of long-term continuers. Similarly, union issues and union requirements, the next most common reason reported, was cited by 7% of long-term continuers and discontinuers but by 8% of completers.

Discrimination was not widely reported as reasons for difficulties in finding employment.

Challenges or obstacles encountered during the apprenticeship program

Almost all apprentices across the three apprentice groups indicated that they encountered an obstacle during their apprenticeship program. As shown in Appendix 1 Table A.1.3.2, obstacles relating to inconsistent work or lack of work, working conditions, employers, and the apprenticeship system were the most frequently cited while obstacles surrounding supervision by a journeyperson, injury, and family or personal problems were not widely reported.

Among the three apprentice groups, the most commonly cited obstacle encountered during apprenticeship training was inconsistent work or lack of work. It was reported by 33% of completers and 34% of long-term continuers and discontinuers.

The next most commonly cited obstacle was that the working conditions were too physically demanding or presented difficulties related to cold, heights, claustrophobia, allergies, product sensitivity, hazardous goods, language, or scheduling. About 21% of completers and discontinuers and 17% of long-term continuers cited this obstacle.

Next, 13% of completers and discontinuers and 11% of long-term continuers reported sexual harassment, discrimination, or problems with their co-workers, employers, or unions. And 13% of completers and 12% of discontinuers and long-term continuers met with insufficient income or delays in funding including employment insurance payments and training allowances.

Program costs (such as costs of tools and books, tuition fees, the lack of tool allowances, and non-tax-deductible costs) were cited as an obstacle but did not appear to impede program success; 9% of completers and 8% of long-term continuers reported this as a barrier compared with 7% of discontinuers.

On the other hand, it did appear that some obstacles may be associated with program discontinuation. Eighteen percent of discontinuers compared with 15% completers reported that their employers did not follow rules, cancelled the apprenticeship, or did not give time for technical training.

Similarly, a lack of awareness of how the apprenticeship system works, no credits for prior work or technical training, and problems with the apprenticeship board and programs (including paperwork, administration, communication, lack of information, cancellation, and lack of classes) were reported by 17% of discontinuers and 14% of long-term continuers compared with 11% of completers.

Help received other than training allowances and employment insurance

Almost all (99%) of apprentices received some form of help other than training allowances and employment insurance during their training. Among the type of help received, (see Appendix 1 Table A.1.3.3) the most commonly cited type of help was transportation, parking, or travel expenses. Seventeen percent of long-term continuers, 15% of completers, and 12% of discontinuers received this support.

The second most commonly cited type of help was wages or other financial assistance during technical training sessions, whether from the employer, union, government, apprenticeship board, or Aboriginal band council. Fifteen percent of completers received this support compared with 11% of long-term continuers and 13% of discontinuers.

Across all apprentice groups the next most frequently reported types of help received was wages above the legally stipulated minimum for apprentices, cited by 12% of long-continuers, 11% of discontinuers, and 9% of completers.

Housing, accommodation, meal allowances, and living allowances were received by 9% of long-term continuers and completers and 8% of discontinuers.

Only between 4% and 5% of apprentices reported living with parents or receiving financial support from family and friends as a type of help received.

Change in employers during the apprenticeship program

The proportion of apprentices who changed employers during their programs was highest for long-term continuers (69%) and lowest for discontinuers (44%). About 64% of completers changed employers during their apprenticeship programs (see Appendix 1 Table A.1.3.4.1).

Appendix 1 Table A.1.3.4.2) shows that the reasons for changing employers were similar across all three apprentice groups. The most common reason was that work was no longer available with that employer. More than half of apprentices in all three groups (51% to 56%) cited this reason.

The next most common reasons were to seek better conditions (such as work, income, or benefits), cited by 7% to 10% of apprentices, and to seek a better employer or to start a business, cited by another 7% to 10% of apprentices.

Between 2% and 4% of apprentices cited harassment, discrimination, and conflicts at work as a reason for changing employers. In addition, another 2% to 4% of apprentices changed employers because they wanted more diverse training, a specialization, or greater experience or advancement opportunities.

Main reasons discontinuers did not complete their apprenticeship programs

Chart 3.1 (see Appendix 1 Table A.1.3.5) shows that the main reason most often cited by discontinuers for not completing their apprenticeship programs was not enough work or income, reported by 15% of discontinuers.

Eleven percent of discontinuers stopped their programs because they received a better job offer, while an additional 10% stopped training because of illness, disability, or medical reasons. Another 10% discontinued because they changed or wanted to change jobs or careers, became self-employed, or lost interest.

A further 9% of apprentices discontinued their programs because they disliked the work or the working conditions, and 6% discontinued their studies because the apprenticeship program was either a hobby or a temporary job and they had no intention of seeking certification.

Four percent of discontinuers said no certification was required to work in their trade, and another 3% returned to school in studies unrelated to the trade. A further 3% encountered problems with their company, employer, or union, including bankruptcy, closure, relocation, discontinuation of the apprenticeship program, layoff, or the employer not following rules.

A large proportion of discontinuers reported other reasons for not completing their apprenticeship program. This response category represents an extremely varied and diverse group of reasons that cannot be synthesized into discrete homogonous categories. This suggests that for a large portion of discontinuers the reasons for dropping out are very diverse and personalized.