Have you heard these recurring sound bites?  'Youth can choose apprenticeship over college and university to 'earn while you work' and 'There are thousands of job unfilled in the skilled trades'.

Are these messages accurate? Do they reflect the reality of what's going on on the ground? While CAF-FCA research shows that Canada will need 350,000 new apprentices in the next 4 years, the type of trades that are/will be in demand vary across the country and are dependant on regional economies. Research also shows that apprentices face significant challenges in finding employment and that employers are relunctant to hire apprentices who do not have experience or training.

Does the message that a youth can choose apprenticeship as an alternative to tradition post secondary education still ring true? Who is responsible for ensuring that youth have the correct information regarding successful apprenticeship pathways?

In episodes 1 and 2 we will explore whether the generic messages still fit. In Episode 1, we discuss what information is currently provided to young people in schools and whether or not they have impact on the skills gap. Guests Shaun Thorson, CEO of Skills Canada and Charlene Hayes, teacher with the OCDSB join CAF-FCA Executive Director France Daviault to discuss their perspectives on what is working and not with Canada's messaging to youth about careers in the skilled trades.