--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/apprenticeship-issues-and-challenges-facing-canadian-manufacturing-industries/" title: "Apprenticeship Issues and Challenges Facing Canadian Manufacturing Industries" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:41:11+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:41:11+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "apprenticeship" - "Canada" - "labour shortages" - "manufacturing" - "skilled labour" - "training" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Labour Markets" - "Sector/Industry Analysis" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # Apprenticeship Issues and Challenges Facing Canadian Manufacturing Industries Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/apprenticeship-issues-and-challenges-facing-canadian-manufacturing-industries/ # Apprenticeship Issues and Challenges Facing Canadian Manufacturing Industries [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2008-02.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Sharpe, Andrew, Jean-François Arsenault, and Simon Lapointe. 2008. “Apprenticeship Issues and Challenges Facing Canadian Manufacturing Industries.” CSLS Research Report 2008-02. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/apprenticeship-issues-and-challenges-facing-canadian-manufacturing-industries/ ## Authors: - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Jean-François Arsenault Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Simon Lapointe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2008-02 February 2008 175 pages ## Related research [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? 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However, the manufacturing industry actually employs a greater amount of persons in apprenticeable occupations than construction. With the rise in value of the Canadian dollar and increased international competition from developing countries, manufacturing industries must increasingly invest in the skills of their workers. Apprenticeship training is often viewed as a possible solution to this challenge. The objective of this report is to discuss issues related to skilled labour shortages and to apprenticeship in manufacturing. The report finds that in recent years the manufacturing sector has suffered from low output and employment growth. In contrast with these findings, the manufacturing sector is reporting increasing shortages of skilled labour. These conflicting indicators suggest that skills shortages in the manufacturing sector are a result of a strong overall labour market rather than dependent on sector specific developments. Growing skills shortages underline the importance for the manufacturing to train and retain employees despite the poor market conditions prevailing in the sector. In this context, apprenticeship programs are highly relevant to the manufacturing sector as 14 per cent of its workforce is in apprenticeable occupations. However, strong growth in the number of apprentices in manufacturing has not been followed by a commensurate increase in the number of completions. Much needs to be done if the apprenticeship system is to significantly foster the international competitiveness of the Canadian manufacturing sector through the development of a highly skilled workforce. Le système d’apprentissage est généralement associé à l’industrie de la construction. Cependant, le secteur manufacturier emploie en fait un plus grand nombre de personnes dans des professions admissibles à l’apprentissage que la construction. Avec la hausse de la valeur du dollar canadien et la concurrence internationale accrue des pays en développement, les industries manufacturières doivent investir de plus en plus dans les compétences de leurs travailleurs. La formation en apprentissage est souvent considérée comme une solution possible à ce défi. L’objectif de ce rapport est d’examiner les enjeux liés aux pénuries de main-d’œuvre qualifiée et à l’apprentissage dans le secteur manufacturier. Le rapport constate qu’au cours des dernières années, le secteur manufacturier a souffert d’une faible croissance de la production et de l’emploi. Contrairement à ces constats, le secteur manufacturier signale des pénuries croissantes de main-d’œuvre qualifiée. Ces indicateurs contradictoires suggèrent que les pénuries de compétences dans le secteur manufacturier résultent d’un marché du travail global vigoureux plutôt que de facteurs propres au secteur. Les pénuries croissantes de compétences soulignent l’importance, pour le secteur manufacturier, de former et de retenir ses employés malgré les conditions de marché difficiles qui y prévalent. Dans ce contexte, les programmes d’apprentissage sont très pertinents pour le secteur manufacturier, puisque 14 % de sa main-d’œuvre occupe des professions admissibles à l’apprentissage. Cependant, la forte croissance du nombre d’apprentis pose certains défis pour le secteur. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2008-02.pdf)