TORONTO, August 22, 2018 – In a recent survey conducted to over 100 electrical employers, the Ontario Electrical League (OEL) unveiled results highlighting a growing number of potential apprenticeships being prevented due to ratio restrictions.
“Entering the electrical trades in Ontario is increasingly difficult because of the apprentice to journeyperson ratio cap, which puts the education and development of the next generation of electricians at risk,” said Stephen Sell, OEL President.
“Many Ontarians trying to enter the industry are turned away because contractors have already filled the maximum amount of apprentice positions they can legally have. As an association that represents the electrical industry, the OEL is working to change this regulation for the betterment of the economy and our industry.”
Of the 127 responses from electrical contractors, 73 per cent indicated they would hire more apprentices. The top response to the question indicated that employers would hire two additional apprentices. The data shows a total count of 307 additional electrical apprentices that could potentially enter the workforce, a figure that is based off the OEL’s research alone.
When it comes to ratio restrictions, the electrical trade is the most complex among any other trade in the province. The OEL is working to change apprenticeship ratios 1:1, as the current ratio structure is as follows below:
The number of apprentices who may be sponsored or employed by a person in the trade of electrician — construction and maintenance in relation to the number of journeypersons employed by the person in the trade shall not exceed,
(a) for the first journeyperson, one apprentice;
(b) for the second journeyperson, an additional apprentice;
(c) for the third journeyperson, an additional apprentice;
(d) for the fourth journeyperson, an additional apprentice;
(e) for the next three additional journeypersons, an additional apprentice;
(f) for the next six additional journeypersons, an additional apprentice; and
(g) for every three additional journeypersons thereafter, an additional apprentice.[1]
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) is the governing body for the administration of laws relating to post-secondary education and skills training, and is directly responsible for imposing tight ratio restrictions which is reviewed once every four years. As the MTCU’s next revision is scheduled for April 2019, the OEL continues to encourage industry stakeholders across the province to lobby for better and fair regulation.
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About the Ontario Electrical League
The Ontario Electrical League is a non-profit provincial organization, dedicated to over 20 chapters and more than 12,000 individual members from the electrical industry. League members include electrical contractors, electricians, apprentices, utilities, generators, inspectors, distributors, manufacturers, manufacturers’ representatives, consulting engineers, educators and service companies.
Media Contact
Bao Xiong – Communications Specialist and Chapter Support, Ontario Electrical League
bao.xiong@oel.org
905-238-1382
TORONTO, August 22, 2018 – In a recent survey conducted to over 100 electrical employers, the Ontario Electrical League (OEL) unveiled results highlighting a growing number of potential apprenticeships being prevented due to ratio restrictions.