TRU's School of Trades and Technology expects a slight bump in student enrollment (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

TRADES CERTIFICATION

TRU expects jump in students following B.C.’s move for mandatory certification in trades

Jun 14, 2021 | 4:46 PM

KAMLOOPS — The province knows what’s coming — a phenomenon that is already hitting the trade sector: retirements that are creating major voids in the labour market in B.C.

It’s estimated more than 50,000 workers in the construction sector alone will be retiring in the next eight years. This labour outlook is partly why the B.C. government is bringing back mandatory certification for all trades workers.

“Create more opportunities for apprentices to get into the system, to solve the problem that we’re going to have not today but 10 years from now when we have 55,800 journeypeople retire in the construction sector,” said BC Parliamentary Secretary for Skills Training Andrew Mercier on Friday during a news conference.

It’s predicted about 73,000 jobs will need to be filled by 2029. The demand will put major pressure on educational institutions like TRU to put more students through the trades programs, but also accomodate people needing to gain proper certification in their industries.

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“I think we will expect a jump. Not sure what we will have,” said Dean of TRU Trades and Technology Baldev Pooni. “But apprenticeships are classes we can put on in pretty short notice and we often do. We switch our funding around, depending on where the demand is.”

Pooni says the new certification requirements will bring more prestige to the trades and encourage younger people to join. He adds TRU will need financial support from the province to create more space for students and apprentices alike.

“Certainly yes, we need funding for more classes. The Industry Training Authority has been pretty good, but as long as we can show numbers and be able to fill out classes, they will fund us,” said Pooni. “But also, there’s going to be the need to be able to hire qualified people for those additional classes.”

The first affected will be the electrical and mechanical trades, including gas fitters and pipe fitters, which will be designated for certification by 2023. The province says workers will have a year to gain the proper certification.

Experienced tradespeople will have the opportunity to challenge exams and avoid coursework. Premier John Horgan says many will be able to gain the necessary certification quickly.

“There are thousands of skilled workers in British Columbia that will only need perhaps a program or a few more hours with a journeyperson to get that certification,” he said Friday.

CFJC Today reached out to a few HVAC companies, who say all of their employees are properly certified and would not be impacted by the new rules.