As demand for skilled trades in Canada continues growing, apprenticeship success has become increasingly important for newcomers and future workers. A new study from Statistics Canada has shed light on an important and often overlooked challenge in Canada’s skilled trades sector. Apprentices who came to Canada as children are consistently less likely to complete their trade certifications compared to their Canadian-born peers. This finding comes from a detailed analysis tracking eight cohorts of newly registered apprentices from 2008 to 2015, observing their outcomes all the way through to 2023.

Understanding these gaps matters not just for the individuals involved, but for Canada’s broader labour market strategy, particularly as the country depends more than ever on skilled trades in Canada that is in construction, healthcare infrastructure, manufacturing, and beyond.

Research Highlights Barriers in Skilled Trades in Canada

Childhood immigrants, defined as those who came to Canada before the age of 18, made up about 4 to 5 percent of newly registered apprentices across all cohorts studied. The remaining 95 to 96 percent were Canadian-born. Even accounting for that relatively small share of the apprentice population, the certification gap between the two groups was clearly visible and consistent across years.

Childhood immigrant apprentices were less likely to earn their certifications across the board. The gaps were particularly noticeable in trades such as cabinetmaking, carpentry, sheet metal work, and hairstyling and barbering. Even after researchers adjusted for sociodemographic factors, income levels, and program characteristics, childhood immigrant apprentices still lagged behind.

Source: New Study Reveals Certification Gaps in Skilled Trades in Canada

Age at Arrival Plays a Major Role

One of the most striking findings is how much the age at which a child arrived in Canada affects their eventual trade certification outcome. Those who arrived during adolescence, meaning roughly between the ages of 13 and 17, had lower certification rates than those who came before the age of 5.

This pattern suggests that the earlier a child integrates into the Canadian education system, including its language environment, social networks, and academic culture, the better prepared they are to succeed in structured training programs like apprenticeships later in life. Adolescent arrivals may face greater hurdles in adapting to new educational norms while also dealing with the social and cultural pressures that come with immigration at an older age.

The Role of Parental Immigration Class

The study also found that the immigration category under which a child’s parents entered Canada has a significant effect on the child’s future certification outcomes. Children whose parents entered through family-sponsored or refugee streams had lower certification rates compared to those whose parents came as skilled workers.

Interestingly, children of Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) entrants actually fared better than those whose parents arrived through standard worker programs. This may reflect the fact that PNP parents are often selected for their specific in-demand skills and tend to settle in regions with strong labour market conditions, providing their children with more stable environments for education and career development.

Immigration to Solve Skilled Trades Shortage in Canada

Canada has been leaning heavily on immigration to address its skilled trades shortage. Tradespersons in construction, manufacturing, and service industries are in high demand. At the same time, Canada invests significantly in apprenticeship training to develop that domestic talent pipeline. If childhood immigrant apprentices are falling through the cracks of that system at higher rates, it represents both a human cost and an economic inefficiency.

The study’s authors note that the findings have important policy implications. Improving occupational alignment, offering more targeted support during apprenticeship training, and recognizing the specific challenges faced by adolescent arrivals could all help close this gap. It also reinforces the value of Canadian work experience pathways, which appear to improve outcomes and reduce the risk of downward occupational mobility among immigrants of all ages.

What Can Be Done?

For young immigrants navigating the trades certification process, access to mentorship, language support, and financial assistance can make a meaningful difference. Provincial and federal programs that identify and address barriers early in the apprenticeship journey are essential. Moreover, strengthening apprenticeship outcomes can help more newcomers secure rewarding jobs in Canada and contribute to the country’s future workforce.

Canada’s long-term labour market success depends on making sure that every person who enters an apprenticeship program has a fair shot at completing it, regardless of where they were born or when they arrived. The Statistics Canada study is a call to action for policymakers, training institutions, and employers to work together to create more equitable outcomes.

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