Trades Shortage Looms CEP Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
Delegates from CEP and B.C. Carpenters Locals heard a bleak forecast for our economy at a conference on apprenticeship organized by CEP.
The looming shortage of skilled workers across Canada is due to the anticipated retirement of approximately 40% of CEP members who work in trades. Despite the loss of tradespeople, employers and governments have failed to allocate the money and resources required to train replacements.
Western Region Vice President Dave Coles told the Richmond, B.C. conference that no plan or process is in place to train new workers. As a result, CEP is now being forced to bargaining training provisions into collective agreements with these same employers.”
Coles said the trades shortage, “needs to be recognized as a threat to our economy.” He said, “ we can’t run industries without skilled workers and we will lose our competitive advantage – you can’t de-skill the workforce and still have an efficient economy.”