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Largely because of our oil, gas and petrochemical industries, Alberta's share of North American construction activity is larger than our population might suggest.
We're the worlds 4th largest natural gas producer, and the 18th largest producer of crude oil. We supply 65% of Canada's energy.
Alberta has nearly $60 billion worth of major and mega-projects underway or being planned, $40 billion of which are in the oil, gas, oil sands, chemical/petrochemical and related industries.
Many of these projects are unique. They are highly complex, involving leading-edge engineering, and built to incredibly high standards, not the least of which is that they must withstand temperatures ranging from +35°C to -40°C.
For 30 years, Alberta has been a North American economic hot spot.
The magnitude of our growth would be impossible without a responsive workforce training system that produces such highly skilled trades people.
Industry calls the shots
Through an active, bottom-up system of trade-specific Local and Provincial Apprenticeship Committees and the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board, Alberta's private sector sets the standards for training and certification in more than 50 trades and crafts. Our apprenticeship training system is highly responsive to employer needs.
Alberta's industry, in partnership with government, develops the course outlines required to meet industry's needs and standards, and supplies the outlines to teaching institutions for delivery of technical training the Government of Alberta's Learning department – through its Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) division – registers and tracks apprentice progress, administers industry examinations and certifies journeymen.
AIT also works with other Canadian provinces to set interprovincial standards in many key trades. The Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) program allows our certified workers mobility to work anywhere in Canada.
The result: international respect, incredible mobility
With only 10% of Canada's population, Alberta trains 20% of the country's apprentices. Alberta-certified workers are respected not only across Canada, but around the globe. Many of them choose careers in the trades because of the national and international mobility their Alberta certification provides. Many other countries also recognize Red Seal-certified trades people.
After 12 years in school, Alberta students make a big decision about the direction of their education. They can attend a university or college. Or they can enter the apprenticeship program.
Apprenticeship training – 80% on the job
All Alberta apprentices must be employed by industry. In each year of training, about 80% of their time is spent learning on-the-job under the direct supervision of an experienced certified journeyman. The other 20% is spent in technical training, either in classrooms or through various forms of alternate delivery such as distance learning. Course content for classroom and distance learning is delivered by post-secondary teaching institutions.
Strong generalists enjoy more flexibility, mobility
In Alberta, both industry and government believe in teaching a wide foundation of general skills first. If an Alberta-trained trades person eventually chooses to specialize in a narrow skill area, he or she will always retain a wider skill set. Alberta-certified journeymen therefore have a far greater career flexibility and mobility than people trained in systems where early specialization is the norm.
Flexibility: more than one way into our system!
Alberta's system enables uncertified people to become certified through recognition of prior learning and/or experience. It enables mature people to change careers and enter apprenticeship training at almost any age. We even have a program that allows bright young people to begin apprenticeship in parallel with their secondary school studies.
