Canada’s Apprenticeship Surge: Record Registrations in 2024

# Canada’s Apprenticeship Surge: Record Registrations in 2024

Canada’s skilled trades sector is experiencing a significant boom, with new apprenticeship registrations reaching an all-time high in 2024. This exciting development signals a robust recovery and a growing demand for skilled professionals across the country. While new registrations are soaring, the path to full certification continues to show a more gradual return to pre-pandemic levels, painting a dynamic picture of the nation’s apprenticeship landscape.

## A New Peak in Apprenticeship Enrollments

For the fourth consecutive year, new registrations in apprenticeship programs have seen substantial growth. In 2024, a remarkable 101,541 individuals embarked on apprenticeship journeys, marking a 5.9% increase from 2023. This figure not only represents a record high since the series began in 2008 but also underscores the sustained need for skilled trades following the near-record lows experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

## Regional Differences in Growth

The national surge in new registrations was primarily propelled by significant gains in a few key provinces. Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia emerged as the leading contributors to this growth, attracting a substantial number of new apprentices, particularly in trades like electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, interior finishers, and automotive service workers. These gains were so strong that they more than compensated for declines observed in six other provinces and two territories, with Nova Scotia (-7.4%) and Quebec (-4.3%) experiencing the largest drops. Encouragingly, almost all provinces, with the exception of Quebec, have now surpassed their pre-pandemic (2019) registration figures.

## Trade-Specific Trends: Highs and Lows

The increase in new registrations was not uniform across all sectors. While 16 of the 24 major trade groups saw year-over-year increases or remained stable, certain trades stood out with remarkable growth:

* **Interior Finishers:** +27.9%
* **Hairstylists and Estheticians:** +26.5%
* **Construction Workers:** +24.2%
* **Early Childhood Educators and Assistants:** +16.7%

Conversely, some trades experienced declines in new registrations, remaining below their pre-pandemic levels. These included machinists (-11.5%), stationary engineers and power plant operators (-9.1%), and landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists (-6.5%). These variations highlight the evolving demands and shifts within Canada’s diverse skilled trades.

## Certifications: Steady Recovery, Yet to Fully Rebound

While registrations are at an all-time high, the number of apprentices completing their programs and receiving certification shows a more modest progression. In 2024, 46,971 apprentices certified, a slight 1.0% increase from the previous year. Despite this growth, national certification numbers still lag behind pre-pandemic levels by 9.6%, indicating that the lingering effects of earlier disruptions are still being felt.

British Columbia was a key driver of national certification growth (+12.9%), particularly in trades such as plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, food service workers, and automotive service technicians. Other provinces like Prince Edward Island (+19.6%), Newfoundland and Labrador (+19.4%), and Nova Scotia (+7.8%) also reported notable proportional gains. However, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec all experienced slight declines in their certification counts.

In terms of specific trades, heavy-duty equipment mechanics (+41.5%), refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics (+36.3%), and landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists (+29.9%) have seen certification levels surpass those of 2019. In contrast, several service-oriented trades, including early childhood educators and assistants, food service workers, and community and social service workers, continue to see certification numbers significantly below their 2019 benchmarks.

## Understanding Apprenticeship Pathways

Insights into apprenticeship pathways reveal some positive adjustments. The certification rate, which measures the percentage of apprentices completing their programs within the expected timeframe, rose by 1.1 percentage points to 19.9% in 2024. While this marks the third consecutive year of improvement, it remains just shy of the 20.9% recorded in 2019.

The continuation rate, representing apprentices still registered at the program’s expected end but not yet certified, slightly decreased by 0.8 percentage points but remained elevated at 49.2%. This elevated rate is likely influenced by apprentices who registered during the peak of the pandemic in 2020, suggesting that disruptions during that period may have extended completion times for some. The discontinuation rate, for those who left their programs, saw a slight decline of 0.3 percentage points, reaching 30.9% in 2024.

## The Future of Skilled Trades in Canada

The latest data from Statistics Canada paints a picture of a resilient and growing skilled trades sector in Canada. The record-breaking new registrations highlight a strong and sustained interest in these vital professions. While the full recovery of certifications to pre-pandemic levels is still underway, the positive trends in pathway indicators suggest a continued commitment to developing a skilled workforce that will support Canada’s economic future.